OAU Hosts Transformative Workshop to Strengthen Executive Officers’ Cadre Amid Global Shifts
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has intensified efforts to reposition its administrative workforce for contemporary challenges, holding a comprehensive one-day capacity-building workshop that explored the evolving relevance of executive officers in a rapidly transforming academic environment.
The programme, organised by the OAU branch of the Nigerian Universities Association of Professional Executive Officers (NUAPEO), drew broad participation from administrators across the institution. Discussions centred on the pressures of globalisation, technological disruption, resource scarcity, and the shifting expectations placed on the sub-officers’ cadre in 21st-century higher education.
Throughout the event, speakers repeatedly emphasised the need for strategic thinking, digital proficiency, ethical leadership, and institutional loyalty — themes Akahi News gathered resonated strongly with the participants.
Executive Officers as the Backbone of University Administration
The workshop, themed “The Role of Executive Officers in the University System in the 21st Century,” spotlighted the indispensable position of executive officers in Nigeria’s higher education architecture. Journalists covering the event noted that participants were reminded of their centrality to the tripartite mission of teaching, research, and community service.
In a message delivered on his behalf, the Registrar of OAU, Mr. Kamardeen Adetunji Bakare, described executive officers as “the synaptic connections that bind academia’s neural network.” Represented by Mr. Vincent Ohalete, Director of Personnel Affairs, he highlighted the officers’ role in sustaining institutional resilience amid shrinking resources and increasing administrative complexities.
Bakare’s address, Akahi News learnt, revisited the historical journey of university administration in Nigeria — from expatriate-dominated structures of the colonial era to empowered indigenous cadres built after the reforms of the Bourdillon Commission of 1942. He stressed that the modern executive officer must pair statutory knowledge with digital fluency, critical thinking, and an unwavering commitment to ethical conduct.
Keynote Highlights: Powers, Rights, and Roles in a New University Order
The intellectual anchor of the event was a detailed keynote presentation by Dr. Adeduntan Segun-Olasanmi, Acting Executive Director of the University Advancement Office. She delivered a paper titled “The Pathways, Powers, and Prospects of an Executive Officer in 21st Century University Administration.”
Honoured with an award prior to her address, Dr. Segun-Olasanmi introduced the PRR Framework — Powers, Rights, and Roles — urging officers to understand the legal foundations of their responsibilities while embracing the evolving demands of university governance.
According to findings gathered by Akahi News, she underscored that today’s universities face exploding enrolments, technology-driven workflows, and increasingly global competition. To remain relevant, executive officers must become system thinkers, agile digital users, effective problem solvers, and champions of excellence.
Her session included an interactive digital poll using a QR code that helped participants assess their own career pathways — from Assistant Executive Officer to Chief Executive Officer. She reinforced her message with inspirational notes such as:
- “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
- “Leaders don’t create followers; they create more leaders.”
Her remarks, Akahi News observed, portrayed executive officers as “engine rooms” that fuel the university’s administrative functions and overall mission.
Interpersonal Skills and Team Dynamics Take Centre Stage
Before the keynote, respected senior administrator Mr. Kabiru Fasola delivered a session on interpersonal skills, emphasising teamwork, flexibility, and positive attitudes. He asserted that executive officers serve as ambassadors of the Vice-Chancellor across departments and must therefore model professionalism, adaptability, and unity.
His message, as reported by Akahi News, urged officers to remain productive and cooperative regardless of changing leadership or shifting departmental demands.
Stakeholders Reaffirm Commitment to Administrative Excellence
The workshop also featured goodwill messages, lively question-and-answer sessions, and panel discussions that allowed participants to unpack real-world administrative challenges. Certificates of Participation were presented at the conclusion of the event.
Speaking on behalf of the University Bursar, Mrs. Olutoyin Abogan, Deputy Bursar Mr. Jimmy Adedoyin praised NUAPEO for organising a forward-looking programme. He stressed that continuous professional development is vital for sustaining innovation and efficient public service within the university sector.
A Timely Intervention for Nigeria’s Higher Education Sector
As the country’s universities confront funding limitations, workforce pressures, and governance challenges, analysts believe the OAU NUAPEO workshop serves as a crucial reminder that administrative structures remain the backbone of academic excellence.
Akahi News learnt that the workshop was widely regarded as a blueprint for repositioning executive officers for the future — empowering them to drive institutional reform, uphold ethical standards, and support the academic mission with renewed vigour.
With the call for improved governance echoing across Nigeria’s higher education landscape, the workshop stands as a powerful invitation for administrative officers to rise as stewards of progress, innovation, and transformational leadership.
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By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here.
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