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 event were the National President of SSANU, Comrade M.H. Ibrahim, and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Hon. Adejare Bello, who served as the guest lecturer.
Held at the Great Hall of LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, the programme 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, the Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH, Professor Rasaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, described the theme as timely and strategic, noting 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 by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management and Operations, Prof. Tunde Ogunkunle, said the Registry and senior staff remained central to university administration, with responsibilities spanning admissions, examinations, staff matters, records, policy implementation and official correspondence.
He therefore called for the capacity development, welfare and strategic involvement of senior staff to be prioritised in digital transformation initiatives.
The Vice-Chancellor further urged universities to move beyond basic digitisation towards intelligent administration through the adoption of electronic document management, workflow automation, data analytics and real-time reporting. He observed that artificial intelligence would increasingly influence university administration and funding decisions.
He, however, stressed that digital transformation was not fundamentally about technology or funding alone, but also about people, urging universities to invest in continuous professional development, staff welfare and career progression.
Delivering the lecture, Hon. Adejare Bello, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, noted that rapid developments in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big-data analytics, the Internet of Things, digital learning platforms, automation, robotics and cybersecurity were transforming the way universities teach, conduct research and administer their institutions.
He said 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 support, philanthropic contributions and 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 as potential sources of additional institutional revenue.
He also emphasised the importance of staff training, reskilling and upskilling, technical support and opportunities for university personnel to participate in technology design and implementation.
He proposed a University Digital Transformation Financing Ecosystem built around digital infrastructure, digital human capital, innovation, diversified financing, commercialisation and effective 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.
The event attracted academics, university administrators, union leaders, community leaders and other stakeholders in education and public service.
Among the distinguished personalities present was Senator Ayoade Adeseun.
The recognition of the honourees, according to the organisers, underscored the importance of recognising individuals and institutions whose contributions continue to support education, leadership and sustainable community development.
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