Be Ready for Leadership Roles – FUNAAB VC Charges Staff Members

• …As Management Empowers Non-Teaching Staff with Leadership Training

By Femi Dansu & Abiodun Babatunde

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, on May 7, 2024, at the Red Chamber in the University, charged Non-Teaching Staff on Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) 13 and above to be prepared to take up leadership roles whenever they were called upon to do so.

The Vice-Chancellor gave this charge at a One-Day Leadership and Managerial Training organised for the concerned members of staff which was aimed to augment their skills and foster efficiency and productivity across the board.

Prof. Kehinde observed that one of the ways by which participants were prepared for leadership roles was through such training, reminding them that they were the custodians and interpreters of University Rules and Regulations via their various positions and responsibilities.

According to him, “Once a misinterpretation occurs from your end, wrong decisions on the part of Management may be the aftermath.”

He, therefore, enjoined them to be up and doing in whatever roles they have been assigned to undertake, noting that they serve as the proverbial mirror in which the Town perceives and evaluates FUNAAB.

Speaking further, the Vice-Chancellor stressed the imperative for Senior Non-Teaching Staff to consistently uphold and project a positive image of the University through their conduct, disposition, interaction, and approach to the “FUNAAB Project”, while exemplifying commendable leadership to guide their junior counterparts, thereby justifying the need for corrective measures when warranted.

Reflecting on the broader significance of continuous training and development in an Establishment such as FUNAAB, Prof. Kehinde underscored the pivotal role of the Registry as the bee-hive of activities in the University, emphasising its indispensable contribution to the seamless functioning of the system daily.

Prof. Kehinde, however, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Acting Registrar, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Dawodu, and her team for their diligent efforts in organising the Training session, acknowledging their vital roles in facilitating professional development and organisational enhancement in the University.

The Training featured insightful sessions delivered by esteemed speakers like Mrs. Omotayo Ikotun, a former Registrar at the University of Ibadan (UI), who delved into topics such as Leadership, Management, and Competitiveness.

Stressing that leadership transcends mere titles, she emphasised its essence as a conduit for inspiring collective action towards shared objectives.

Besides, she delineated management as the orchestration of diverse talents towards common goals and underscored the importance of competitiveness in today’s landscape.

Mrs. Ikotun, a seasoned Administrator per excellence, who is also a former Registrar of Kola Daisi University (KDU) outlined the traits of effective leadership, including communication, vision, empathy, decisiveness, and adaptability, advocating for strategies such as leading by example, effective communication, empowerment, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Complementing the discourse, Mr. Kuro Ngoboh, the Lead Consultant, Purple Plethora Concepts Limited, expounded on Leadership Management and strategies for competitiveness within and beyond the University.

He elucidated the multifaceted role of leaders as guides, representatives, and catalysts for growth, stressing the primacy of achieving results.

Mr. Ngoboh, a Training and Business Development Consultant and a former GT Bank Southwest Zonal Head highlighted essential leadership tools such as strategic thinking, decision-making, team building, and emotional intelligence.

Harping on the macroeconomic objectives, he underscored the importance of adding value to one’s role and embodying the University’s ethos.

Earlier in his Welcome Remarks, the Deputy Registrar I, Senate and Admissions, Dr. Abdussobur Salaam noted that the Training was meticulously crafted to bolster the participant’s leadership acumen, and also enhance their performance, while urging them to embrace it as a catalyst for professional growth.

Dr. Salaam, who also doubles as the Chairman, Committee on Training of Non-Teaching Staff, added that the Training would be a continuous process in the University.

The event drew participation from key University officials, including the Acting Bursar, Mr. Olukayode Osinuga, several Deputy Registrars, Deputy Directors, Principal Assistant Registrars, as well as Assistant Directors underscoring FUNAAB’s commitment to equipping its staff for high productivity.

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