Last Updated on June 19, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Raymond Osemene
The Directorate of Technologists and Technical Staff (DITTECS) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), today, June 15, 2026, organised a One-Day Capacity-Building Workshop aimed at equipping laboratory professionals with the competencies required to thrive in the rapidly evolving academic and workplace environment.
The workshop, themed “Building Future-Ready Laboratory Professionals: Essential Hard and Soft Skills for Academic and Workplace Excellence,” was held at the Green Chamber and attracted laboratory technologists, technical staff, and other participants from across the University Community.
Delivering the Welcome Address, the Director of DITTECS, Dr. ‘Wunmi Abimbola-Okuneye, expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, for his support towards initiatives designed to enhance the professional development of laboratory personnel and strengthen their contributions to scientific advancement and institutional excellence.
She noted that technical competencies such as laboratory techniques, good laboratory practice, scientific literacy, quantitative analysis, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, laboratory safety, and biosafety remain fundamental to scientific excellence. According to her, the effective application of these competencies is strengthened by soft skills such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, mentorship, and integrity, which are essential for success in today’s dynamic workplace.
Presenting the keynote lecture, the Acting Director-General of NISLT, Dr. Peter Adefisoye, restated the importance of continuous professional development, urging laboratory personnel to consistently upgrade their knowledge and competencies. He highlighted emerging trends such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, laboratory information management systems, cloud computing, hybrid work environments, and global collaborations as developments reshaping laboratory practice.
While reaffirming the importance of technical expertise, he stressed that career success also depends significantly on soft skills, including communication, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management.
Dr. Adefisoye encouraged laboratory technologists to seek exposure to sophisticated laboratory equipment and emerging technologies, even where such facilities were not readily available, noting that proactive self-development could create valuable career opportunities.
He also emphasised the need to understand laboratory instrumentation, troubleshoot equipment faults, uphold high operational standards, and improve scientific writing, presentation, and communication skills. Furthermore, he highlighted the benefits of professional licensing and networking, noting that active professional credentials and strategic relationships can unlock significant career and economic opportunities.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Adefisoye encouraged laboratory professionals to mentor younger colleagues, document their expertise, and embrace lifelong learning, maintaining that continuous self-improvement remains the foundation of sustained success in the modern laboratory environment.
Dignitaries at the event included the representative of the University Librarian, Dr. Samuel Adeyoyin and the immediate past Director of DITTECS, Dr. Julius Amira, among others.
