Background

The Directorate of Technologists and Technical Staff (DITTECS) was established in 2011, but became operational on February 1, 2012. The Directorate was created with a mandate to provide quality laboratory services to spur generation of knowledge through qualitative and analytical researches, provision of sound laboratory practical skills to undergraduate, graduate students and provide essential community services. In addition, the Directorate is saddled with the responsibilities of making appropriate recommendations on all matters pertaining to laboratory personnel, equipment sourcing and management.

Mission

To improve the laboratory status in the field of Agriculture, Science, Engineering and Allied disciplines through the provision of quality laboratory services by advancing the capabilities of all laboratories and well-motivated staff. Technology development is significant in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) target by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of more sustainable way of development. Therefore, the Directorate is also linking its activities and keying into the SDG 2030 agenda with its adopted code #SDG 4, 8, 9.
SDG 4- Quality Education
SDG 8 – Good Jobs and Economic Growth
SDG 9 – Innovation and Infrastructure

Structure of the Directorate

The Directorate is one of the component units under the office of the Vice-Chancellor. It is currently headed by the first substantive and first female Director, Dr. (Mrs.) Abimbola-Okuneye, W. A. (FISLT).

The Directorate has had three (3) Acting Directors and a Deputy Director as follows:
 Mr. Ojo, Abraham Olajide (pioneer Acting Director, 2011- 2014, 2016 – 2018)
 Mr. Rufai, Sola Taliat (Acting Head, 2014 – 2015)
 Dr. Amira, Olayiwola Julius (Acting Director, 2018 – 2023)
 Engr. Tahir, Abdullahi (Deputy Director, 2012 – 2022)

The Directorate is structured into the following units viz:
i. Plant and Environmental Technology
ii. Basic Sciences and Engineering Technology
iii. Animal and Veterinary Technology
iv. Equipment Maintenance Centre (EMC)

The Directorate of Technologists and Technical Staff employs Laboratory Management and Intelligence to serve as a backbone of laboratory operations, ensuring that academic training, scientific research and analytical services are carried out with precision, efficiency and safety.

Core Mandate

– Coordinate and supervise laboratory Technologists/Scientists and Technical Staff across departments
– Maintain functional laboratories that meet academic, research and analytical standards.
– Implement laboratory management systems for efficiency, safety and sustainability.
– Integrate laboratory intelligence-data driven tools and innovations- for improved performance.

Laboratory Management

 Resource Management: Equipment maintenance, calibration and inventory control
 Human Resource Development: Training, mentoring and capacity building of laboratory Technologists/Scientists.
 Safety and Compliance: Enforcing biosafety, chemical safety and ethical standards.
 Operational Excellence: Establishing Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs), quality assurance systems and workflow optimization
 Innovation and Value addition: Supporting product development, prototype testing and consultancy services.

Laboratory Intelligence

• Digitilization: Adoption of Laboratory information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Data-Driven Decisions: Using analytics to optimize the laboratory efficiency, research outputs and equipment utilization, consumables and safety protocols
• Predictive Maintenance: Applying adequate tools in anticipating research rend resource needs, equipment maintenance schedule to predict and prevent equipment breakdown.
• Smart Monitoring: Internet of Things (IoT)-based sensors for equipment and safety monitoring.
• Knowledge Management: Centralized data storage and retrieval for teaching, research, innovation and extension

Strategic Importance

– Enhances academic teaching quality and practical training sessions
– Provides technical support for innovation and ground breaking research
– Contributes to industrial partnerships, consultancy and innovation hubs
– Strengthens institutional reputation through quality and efficiency

Functions of the DITTECS

i. To survey all laboratory facilities to determine space, equipment and staffing needs.
ii. To ensure that the quality of laboratory services is improved.
iii. To ensure establishment of physical laboratory infrastructure of appropriate size with essential utilities and safe environment for staff and students.
iv. To ensure and enforce availability of standard operating procedure (SOPs) in every laboratory for use of equipment, test procedure, conduct of laboratory practical class.
v. To inculcate equipment maintenance consciousness on all laboratory equipment users.
vi. To ensure best laboratory practices principles are adhered to all the time
vii. To ensure regular laboratory safety audit is conducted.
viii. To ensure rehabilitation of existing laboratories are done in line with Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
ix. Exercise leadership and authority as the Directorate responsible to laboratory regulation.
x. Evaluate and implement new technologies and ensure state of the art, cost effective equipment is procured.
xi. Provide or facilitate, training courses and workshops for laboratory staff to ensure continual upgrade of knowledge and skills essential for providing quality services.
xii. Liaise with department of Human Resources and Establishment Matters, teaching departments and professional associations in matter related to laboratory services.
xiii. Sponsor training opportunities to improve technical skills and competence of laboratory services.
xiv. Keeping records of laboratory personnel, carry out annual evaluation and make recommendation for reward or otherwise.
xv. Enforce ethics and code of professional conducts.
xvi. Policy development to sustain laboratory management excellence