…as UNILAG holds maiden registry week lecture
In today’s rapidly evolving academic landscape, the growing digitalisation of higher education demands more than surface-level familiarity with technology, as experts advocate university staff should embrace digital literacy to become professionally competent to streamline operations.
University dons who spoke at the University of Lagos’ (UNILAG), Akoka, maiden registry week lecture emphasised the need for every staff member, especially those in the administrative unit to move beyond basic proficiency to embrace true digital literacy, the ability to think critically, adapt to new platforms, and leverage technology for innovation and impact.
Akinwunmi Lewis, former registrar at Lagos State University (LASU), speaking on “Excellence in University Administration: The Imperatives of Professionalism and Digital Literacy”, emphasised that beyond speaking good English, university administrators should have outputs that reflect professionalism in the contemporary era, which entails digital literacy.
“Digital literacy is a foundational competence for administrators. It is going to shift our role from support to strategic leadership.
“It also enables us to move from manual processes to transparent, efficient, and data-driven systems. Digital literacy also includes foundational technical skills and capacity to generate innovative ideas,” he said.
Folasade Ogunsola, vice-chancellor of UNILAG, in her remarks said that professionalism and digital literacy is the foundation of moving the university to the next level.
“Everything good starts with the people and stops with the people. University of Lagos is not brick and mortar, it’s is the people within the community, that are making the systems run.
“The registry is about the systems, and record keeping; and professionalism is both a very selfish thing. It’s about you as well as about the institution,” she stressed.
Ogunsola reiterated that people are what they do constantly, hence, she admonished the university staff to embrace good habits in their discharge of duties.
“We’re our habits. So if we form bad habits, when we retire from here, it will come to bite us.
“Professionalism is simply the behaviour and attitude of someone in a work or business environment, and that’s characterised by competence, reliability, and respect,” she noted.
Lucien Chukwu, the immediate past deputy vice-chancellor in charge of management services at UNILAG, and the chairman of the occasion, applauded the registry unit of the university for the theme; “University Administration: The Future is Now”, which he described as a timely and thought-provoking.
He said the theme is a reminder that the future once anticipated is already here.
“The disruptions, opportunities, and transformations that once seemed distant have arrived in real time, thereby reshaping the landscape of the university administration.
“As registry staff, you can occupy a pivotal role in the machinery of the university. It is indeed stating the obvious that the registry serves as the engine room of the university operations, from records to admissions office, which is the busiest at this point in time,” he said.
Chukwu encouraged the staff to embrace and leverage technology wisely.
“Don’t let ChatGPT take over your critical thinking skills. The University of Lagos is technologically driven, through its Future Ready Agenda, has deployed technology innovatively for upskilling and reskilling of staff aimed at improved work ethics and professionalism,” he emphasised.
Abosede Wickcliffe, the registrar at UNILAG, explained that the maiden registry lecture is the culmination of activities that commenced on Tuesday, November 4 with an awareness walk, and a financial literacy seminar the following day.
Wickcliffe emphasised that the digital transformation sweeping through the university signals that the institution is not waiting for the future.
“The University of Lagos is living in the future, and as the custodians of administrative structure, the registry must lead this change.
“We must embrace innovation, uphold integrity and deliver service with excellence and empathy. The time for routine, resistance to change is over. The time for creativity, agility, proactiveness, and accountability is now,” she said.
The event witnessed the unveiling of UNILAG’s Registry Sentinel Magazine, and awards to many deserving staff of the institution.
