For about 90 minutes, Prof Tolu Odugbemi returned to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he served as vice chancellor (2007-2010) to give valuable advice to registry and bursary workers recently.
The programme, “An Hour with the Doyen”, an initiative of the bursary and registry units of the university, provides opportunity for workers of both units to learn from past administrators of the institution.
The Senate Chambers of the institution was packed such that a large number of workers of both units had to stay in the foyer while Odugbemi, spoke on “The Pivotal Role of Administration in a University – Reflections”.
Odugbemi, who also served as the vice chancellor of the Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) after UNILAG, underscored the importance of imbibing such values as honesty, hard work, team work, and integrity, which he said were crucial to the smooth running of a university.
He shared his experiences as an administrator with the audience, which also included some principal officers like the Registrar, Mrs Taiwo Ipaye; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research), Prof Toyin Ogundipe; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof Duro Oni, and the Provost, College of Medicine, Prof Folashade Ogunsola and other dons.
Prof Odugbemi advised the workers to ensure they put the interest of the community above self in all their official dealings as selfishness causes underdevelopment.
“The Nigerian education sector has numerous challenges. Discipline is very important in attaining any significant achievement in society. Nigeria is at cross-roads. Instead of our present educational system helping to propel us forward in development, we face a gloomy state of decay because of wrong ideas and teachings that made ‘self’ instead of ‘society’ the centre of development. The over-development of ‘self’ in positive ways would not have harmed the nation but the greed attached to ‘self-development’ has,” he said.
Participants told The Nation they learnt a lot from the lecture.
Mrs Adeola Akinyeye, senior assistant registrar with the senate, said: “I also learnt about integrity, courage – that these are the values that we need to imbibe as administrators and they will help us to contribute our quota to the development of the university. So I intend to do that and also make use of his word of wisdom in my day-to-day activities.”
Prof Ogundipe said: “I learnt that you must put integrity, sincerity and be purposeful in whatever we are doing to move the university forward. The university is to help the community and the society the other way round, so if there are problems in the society the university should be able to help.”
Prof Ogunsola said the Odugbemi’s lecture re-instated what she already knew about integrity and other values.
“I have known him for a long time and understand the importance of the things he mentioned – courage in particular and integrity. In Nigeria you may have integrity but you will constantly have to defend it because everything around you is struggling to break it,” she said.
Oluwaseun Ajidabga of the Information Unit said many people came to hear Odugbemi because of his integrity while in office.
“The turnout has never been this high in the history of an hour with the doyen. The people who were outside where more than the people who were inside, which goes to show the love they have for the former vice chancellor; and I am sure people will put what he has said to good use,” he said.
Dr Ipaye said the programme has been invaluable in tapping into the knowledge of veteran administrators.
“We felt that inviting veterans to come and share with us their experience in the office and to receive their guidance will stimulate most of us. We have been having very stimulating experiences from the vice chancellors, registrars. It is an opportunity to tap from their wealth of experience so that we can work towards an enduring legacy,” she said.
