OAU Trains Staff on Leadership and Governance

Mr. Adetunji Kamardeen BAKARE, the Registrar, Obafemi Awolowo University

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has held a one-day training workshop for its executive staff, highlighting their critical role in modern university administration. Organised by the University’s branch of the Nigerian Universities Association of Professional Executive Officers (NUAPEO), the event focused on career development, institutional authority, and adapting to technological and global shifts in higher education.

The workshop, themed “The Role of Executive Officers in the University System in the 21st Century,” brought together administrators from across the University. Speakers emphasised the importance of executive officers as the backbone of university operations, linking teaching, research, and community engagement.

Represented by the Director of Personnel Affairs, the Registrar, Mr Kamardeen Adetunji Bakare, urged staff to embrace digital skills, critical thinking, and adaptive leadership to strengthen institutional resilience. Keynote speaker Dr Adeduntan Segun-Olasanmi of the University Advancement Office outlined a “PRR Framework” – Powers, Rights, and Roles – highlighting the need for system thinking, ethical leadership, and innovation.

Other sessions covered interpersonal skills, teamwork, and navigating administrative challenges, with interactive polls revealing diverse career pathways within the executive cadre. Participants received certificates of attendance, while the University Bursar, Mrs Olutoyin Abogan, reinforced the importance of continuous professional development.

The workshop signals OAU’s commitment to equipping its staff to lead effectively in a changing academic landscape, positioning executive officers as central to governance and institutional progress.