For several hours on July 5, members of the Chartered Institute of Administration (CIA) and other guests who converged on the Prestigious Hall of Golden Tulip Hotel, FESTAC Town Amuwo-Odofin Lagos, had the privilege of listening to some of the finest discourses on administration, maladministration and nation-building in Nigeria.
The event was the 2019 induction ceremony of new members of the Chartered Institute of Administration (CIA).
Speaker after speaker harped on the relevance of good administrators and honestly unpretentious administration that could engender the kind of society where everything works.
In his keynote address at the induction ceremony where a total of 162 members comprising 45 Fellows, 68 Full Members and 49 Associate members were inducted, the President and Chairman of Council Adm. Samson O. Olopade (FCIA) said the induction ceremony was in line with the mandates and Acts of the institute, even as he noted that the exercise also served as a platform through which management administration system in the country could be strengthened.
Adm. Olopade further stated that the institute prides itself with excellence and professionalism.
“The process leading to members’ qualification and admission into the professional membership of the institute was quite taxing and rigorous. This is because the institute prides itself with excellence and professionalism. It will ensure that those desirous of its membership are equipped with the requisite administrative knowledge and skills to function as professionals,” he said.
Urging the newly inducted members to uphold the principles and integrity of the profession in their service to humankind, he CIA President advised them to be committed to contributing to the societal desire to bring about effective, efficient and seamless administration system in all spheres of the country’s economy.
He noted that the country has huge administrative deficit which yearns for improvement, even as he said “the institute was committed to providing the necessary support that will ensure hitch-free operations of the newly inducted members.
Olopade said: “The induction programme avails the inductees the opportunity to formally certify administration professionals who have met the requirements to practice as chartered administrators at the various membership echelons of the institute.
“As a chartered administration professional, take advantage of seminars and workshops in order to be constantly abreast of new developments and techniques in the profession.
“Finally, you should be proud of belonging to the Chartered Institute of Administration which is a professional and examining body chartered by an Act of National Assembly Cap C7 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“The Act empowers the institute to regulate the training and practice of Administration within a professional framework throughout Nigeria. The Federal Ministry of Education…has accredited and graded the professional qualification of the institute for employment in all sectors of the economy.
“Any wonder we are committed to building a body of professional administrators with the highest level of competence by promoting education, practical training and research and regulating the practice of Administration for the performance improvement in all sectors of Nigerian economy and across the world.”
Corroborating the President’s assertions on the relevance of the CIA to the society, a member of the Governing Council and Chairman, Corporate Affairs Committee of the institute, Adm. (Dr.) Noble E. Oguguo (FCIA) said the critical relevance of the institute in Nigeria is the fact that the bane of the economic doldrums and political crises in the country stem from maladministration.
He maintained that the institute is a fundamental focus towards getting things right, even as he noted that “maladministration defines a lot of things that are wrong in the country.”
Adm. Oguguo regretted that “maladministration has seemingly been institutionalised, making it difficult for an egalitarian society to evolve.”
He also condemned a situation where there are strong individuals instead of strong institutions that would bring about our much-desired society whose features are growth and development.
He said: “We need a country where administration is institutionalised in everything we do. We need a country where there is strong systems, strong institutions and weak individuals that will be subservient to the institutions.
“What we currently have are very strong individuals and weak institutions that are controlled by the strong individuals. So, the critical role of this institute is to ensure that, as much as possible, we push to the forefront the fact that we need to bring in administration in all facets of our national life so that we can strengthen the institutions and systems and then compel individuals to be subordinate to the institutions. It is only then we can begin to evolve a country that works.
“We need a revolution of the mindset in order to bring this about. Nigerians need reorientation. So, we need to sensitise people to the need for rewarding standpoint that will change their mindset towards appropriate thinking.
“The dynamics in the transferal of mindset is much more in favour of the younger generations than the older ones. We also crave the understanding of the older ones to create atmosphere conducive enough to development so that the younger ones can seamlessly bring about the refined mindset that we need to move the country forward.
“The task of nation-building begins from an individual’s small corner. Separate efforts towards the same goal will aggregate to the state and the entire country. All we need is to begin to do things right.”
Highlights of the event were induction of Fellows, Full and Associate members of the institute, administration of Oath of professional membership, presentation of certificates to the inductees and a mini-convocation for the purpose of conferring Professorship Award on Adm. (Dr.) Akobundu Okoronkwo (FCIA) by the President/Founder and Chairman of Governing Council, Institut Superieur Fopase University of Benin Republic, Prof. Kossi Rowland Dogble.
Some of the dignitaries present at the ceremony were Adm. Samson Olopade, Adm. (Dr.) Festus Oshoba, Adm. (Prof.) George U.K. Chima, Adm. (Prof.) Nwose Ifeanyi Chukuma, Adm. (Dr.) Akobundu Okoronkwo, Dr. Chioma Nwose, Adm. (Dr.) Joseph C. Okeke, Adm. Ugochukwu Azubuike, Adm. (Dr.) Noble E. Oguguo, Adm. Anthony Eze, Adm. Samuel Olawuyi Olaoye, Adm. Stephen Njoku, Barrister Eunice Ike of Federal Ministry of Education, Adm. Princewill Gbogbodu and Adm. Obaseyi Williams, among others.
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