The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, has stated that University administrators constitute a critical component in the life of any University administration because they play pivotal roles in policy formulation, analysis and implementation. He stated this during an In-house Lecture Series, organised by the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA), FUNAAB Chapter.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the extent to which an organisation could achieve its set goals was a direct function of the premium placed on staff training, stressing that staff training constituted a salient aspect of the achievements of goals by such institutions, adding that “the training and re-training of University staff cannot be over-emphasised”. Represented by the Dean, College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD), Professor Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale, the Vice-Chancellor observed that the recently-approved University Staff Development Policy by the Governing Council, indicated that the current administration was committed to staff development. “I urge every member of ANUPA, FUNAAB Chapter to study the document and seize the various opportunities and the vista of limitless possibilities embedded therein with a view to devising veritable means of translating same to your advantage”.

The Vice-Chancellor further reiterated the commitment of the present administration at making the University attain a world-class status, stating that the lofty vision may not be achieved without well-equipped staff. He, however, lauded the leadership of ANUPA for aligning itself with the vision of Management in relation to staff development, adding that it had demonstrated the possession of great potentials and character in building a formidable partnership for the overall development of the University. The Vice-Chancellor then charged the administrators to always strive for greater productivity.

The University Registrar, Mr. Mathew Ayoola, described training as a systematic and organised approach, either on-the-job or out-of-the-job, where knowledge and skills are imparted on employees with the intention of making them more competent and effective on their present duties or preparing them for higher responsibilities. The Registrar said the complexities and dynamism in University administration required that career administrators were trained and re-trained periodically to cope with the ever increasing demands of University administration. “These demands must necessarily be matched with the exhibition of competence in record keeping and communication both in oral and written forms for effective performance”, he added.

Earlier, the Chairperson of ANUPA, Mrs. Toyin Dawodu, stated that the Lecture Series was resuscitated, to equip administrators better in enhancing their work in the University. Mrs. Dawodu, who is also the Deputy Director, Establishment Matters (Senior) said that with time, the Lecture Series would draw a larger audience, spreading across the country.

In her captivating lecture titled, “Communicative Competence/Use of English”, the Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Mrs. Emi’ Alawode, described communication as an integral part of the activities of a typical administrator. She said communication could be divided into verbal and non-verbal. It could also be written or visually illustrated. According to her, an administrator should possess good interpersonal communication, presentation, writing and listening skills as well as
good command of pragmatics to be able to perform creditably well. She noted the importance of choice of words in the day-to-day activities of an administrator whether officially or unofficially, saying that communicative competence could be classified into four components: linguistic, socio-linguistic, discourse and strategic competences.

In the second lecture titled, “The Place of Record Keeping in the University Administration”, the Deputy Director, Senate and Admissions Unit, Mr. Aniediabasi Udofia, described record keeping as the making and maintaining of complete, accurate and reliable evidence of business transaction in the form of recorded information. He stated that three types of record

keeping include personal correspondence and documents, University records as well as scanned records, adding that record keeping systems are

classified into two, that is, paper-based and electronic record keeping systems. Mr. Udofia warned of the threats of record keeping in the University to include infiltration of the record system by unauthorised persons, hacking, inconsistencies in record management and transfers as well as students/staff unrest. Others include poor quality of storage facilities, rodents and climatic changes. He stated that the future of record keeping in the University system would continue to be very important.

His words, “The University is sustainable because it can account for student and staff records, research output and its transactions with the public”, adding that even though everyone is now thinking of a paperless environment, but he opined that paper would continue to play a major role in record keeping.