SSANU-LAUTECH honours Ejide, Buhari, OAU Pro-Chancellor, Ibrahim as Bello canvasses digital university ecosystem
pannigeriannews
3 min read
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso branch, on Thursday, honoured prominent Ogbomoso businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Lamidi Monsur Ayoade Ejide; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation and Aerospace Development, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, and other distinguished personalities for their contributions to education, leadership and community development.
Also honoured at the programme were the National President of SSANU, Comrade M.H. Ibrahim, and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Hon. Adejare Bello, who was also the guest lecturer at the event.
The programme, held at the Great Hall of LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, featured a public lecture titled, “Emerging Digital Transformation for the Advancement of Nigerian Universities through Innovative Funding Models: The Strategic Role of Key Stakeholders.”
Welcoming participants to the event, the Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH, Professor Rasaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, described the theme as timely and strategic, stressing that the university of the future would be defined not only by the quality of its academic programmes and research output, but also by the quality, efficiency, responsiveness and integrity of its administrative systems.
Kalilu, who was represented at the occasion by Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management and Operations, Prof. Tunde Ogunkunle, said the Registry and senior staff were at the heart of university administration, touching virtually every aspect of institutional operations, from admissions and examinations to staff matters, records, policy implementation and correspondence.
He therefore called for the capacity, welfare and strategic involvement of senior staff to be prioritised in any digital transformation initiative.
The Vice-Chancellor added that universities must move beyond mere digitisation to intelligent administration, through the adoption of electronic document management, workflow automation, data analytics and real-time reporting, noting that artificial intelligence would increasingly influence university administration and funding decisions.
He, however, stressed that transformation is not fundamentally about technology or money alone, but about people.
He urged institutions to invest in continuous professional development, welfare and career progression of their workforce.
Speaking on the lecture topic, Hon.Bello, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor, OAU, Prof.Adesola Aderounmu, said the rapid development of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data analytics, Internet of Things, digital learning platforms, automation, robotics and cybersecurity is transforming the way universities teach, conduct research and administer their institutions.
He, however, noted that digital transformation required sustained investment beyond the acquisition of technology, urging Nigerian universities to complement government funding with public-private partnerships, development-finance institutions, technology and telecommunications companies, alumni and philanthropic contributions, as well as revenue generated from digital services.
Bello identified online programmes, professional certification, executive education, digital-skills training, consultancy, software development, research services, intellectual-property licensing and technology transfer among possible revenue sources.
He also stressed the need for staff training, reskilling and upskilling, technical support and opportunities for university personnel to participate in technology design.
He proposed a University Digital Transformation Financing Ecosystem built around digital infrastructure, digital human capital, innovation, diversified financing, commercialisation and governance.
Bello, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, recommended that universities develop five-year digital transformation master plans, establish dedicated digital transformation funds, strengthen public-private partnerships and technology commercialisation, create alumni digital transformation endowment funds, and make cybersecurity and data governance strategic priorities.
Among others, Senator Ayoade Adeseun was also present at the event.
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