Experts and university administrators have called for improved funding, quality personnel, effective governance and professional administration to strengthen the global competitiveness of Nigerian universities.
The call was made at the maiden Registry Lecture of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, held at the University Library Complex.
The lecture was themed: “Building World-Class Universities through Effective Professional Administration: The Imperatives of Excellent Service Delivery, Innovation and Digital Technology”.
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A former Registrar of Ekiti State University and former Chairman of the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities, Dr Omojola Awosusi, identified talent, resources and good governance as three major requirements for building world-class universities.
Awosusi noted that Nigeria’s university system had suffered a loss of academic talent due to brain drain, with many highly qualified graduates increasingly attracted to other sectors by better opportunities.
He also expressed concern about the quality of students entering the university system, stressing that talented lecturers needed talented students to achieve the desired academic outcomes.
Inadequate funding, according to the former registrar, had affected universities’ ability to attract and retain quality academics, provide modern equipment and maintain standard laboratories and other facilities.
Awosusi also raised concerns about external controls and called for greater autonomy for universities, arguing that institutions needed the freedom and resources to address their challenges effectively.
He advocated stronger investment in technical and vocational education, noting that Nigerians who did not pursue university education could still achieve success by acquiring skills that addressed societal problems.
A former Registrar of the University of Ibadan, Mrs Mojisola Ladipo, observed that the role of registrars had changed considerably over the years, noting that the five-year tenure could be challenging because of the knowledge and experience required to effectively perform the role.
“A newly appointed registrar would often spend the first year learning the responsibilities of the office, and the duties of registrars had continued to expand as university administration became more complex.” She stated.
Ladipo expressed optimism about the future of university registries, particularly with the growing influence of technology.
“Artificial Intelligence and other technologies would take over some administrative functions and could lead to leaner registries with fewer personnel, while making the system more efficient.” The Former Registrar explained.
She stressed that technology would not make the registry irrelevant but would instead strengthen its operations, despite the growing influence of government and external regulatory bodies on university governance and their effect on the traditional role of registrars.
The Vice-Chancellor of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Prof. Adesola Ajayi, emphasised that professional administration was essential to building a world-class university.
Ajayi noted that the university placed emphasis on recruiting quality students and academic staff, while providing continuous training and capacity-building opportunities for its personnel.
He disclosed that lecturers were required to undergo a mandatory teaching programme before taking up teaching responsibilities, while technology was being used to connect students with professionals and instructors from different parts of the world.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that the university had introduced performance indicators to assess its personnel, with students’ feedback among the factors considered in evaluating academic staff during promotion processes.
Ajayi maintained that effective professional administration, quality academic delivery, innovation and digital technology were essential to positioning Nigerian universities for global competitiveness.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Registrar of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Mrs Olarewaju Omolola, said the lecture was organised not only to contribute to knowledge but also to gain insights that would improve service delivery.
Representatives of the University of Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Crescent University, Emmanuel Alayande University, Cornerstone University and Bowen University attended the lecture.
Others included McPherson University, New City University, Redeemer’s University, Trinity University, Dominion University, Mountaintop University and Fountain University, among others.
