By Ayodele Oni
A University Administrator has advised Government to fund tertiary education adequately and deploy adequate technology to ensure performance.
Dr. Olu Awosusi, a former Registrar of Ekiti State University, (EKSU) was delivering a registry lecture at the Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko, (AAUA) also called for a deliberate and concerted effort by managers of tertiary institutions in Nigeria to deploy relevant technology if the institutions must perform optimally and gain global relevance.
Dr. Awosusi, declared that “One of the reasons our universities are not performing at optimal level has been the failure to deploy appropriate technology.
“If a university is not a world-class institution, it is difficult for its Registry or any other of its units to exude world-class attributes. Technology is, no doubt, a prerequisite for effective and efficient delivery of services.”
He also recommended for Nigerian universities adoption and acquisition of Electronic Document Management System, (EDMS), to facilitate digitization of their operations, while relevant experts and personnel should be engaged.
The Guest Lecturer, who berated poor funding of higher institutions in the country, called on proprietors, especially state governors, to inject more funds to the state-owned institutions.
According to him, “He who created the pipe must pay the piper handsomely and provide additional funds for the maintenance of the musical instrument.”
The Special Guest of Honour and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, in his Goodwill Message, congratulated the Registrar, Mr. Olugenga Arajulu, for pioneering Registry Annual Lecture in the University.
Dr. Abayomi, who was represented by a member of the Governing Council, Arch. Tosho Ale, said the Council recently had a tour of the University to assess its needs and would expand its work to cover the areas where needs were identified.
The Vice Chancellor of AAUA, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, reiterated the commitment of his administration to regular training of staff of the institution for optimal service delivery.
Prof. Ige declared open the maiden edition of the Registry Annual Lecture of the University, entitled, “Efficiency in University Registry Functions: The Imperative E-Governance and Electronic Documents Management System.”
Prof Ige said, “Manpower development remains one of this administration’s cardinal attentions in our journey to building a 21st Century compliant administrative workforce.
“There is no gainsaying the Registry is the engine room of university administration and governance.
“Advancements in technology and science brings us closer to digitization and robotization of several aspects of office work and human endeavours.
“This, increasingly imposes on every worker to adapt to these constantly changing terrains of technological breakthroughs, and it means that the Registry staff that would fit into the environment of a 21st Century University must be adept at using technology to achieve set objectives.”
