THE Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole, and the National President of the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA), Dr. Victor Bem, have called for practical reforms and action-driven administration in Nigerian universities, stressing the need for innovation, resilience and professionalism in higher education governance.
The duo made the call at the opening of the 2026 national training workshop of ANUPA for senior university administrators in the South-West, held at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State.
The workshop, themed “Advancing University Resilience through Effective Strategic Governance, Administrative Excellence and Institutional Sustainability,” brought together administrators from across the region to deliberate on strengthening institutional capacity and improving governance systems in universities.
Speaking at the event, Oduwole said resilience has become a critical requirement in modern university administration, adding that administrators must move beyond theoretical knowledge to practical implementation of ideas.
“Translate what you learn here into action. Move beyond theoretical frameworks,” she said, urging participants to develop actionable solutions capable of improving institutional performance.
She stressed that universities must continue to entrench academic excellence and administrative efficiency, noting that administrators play a central role in translating policies into measurable outcomes.
According to her, success in university administration depends on hard work, resilience, honesty and truthfulness, which she described as non-negotiable values in the sector.
The Vice-Chancellor also called on participants to embrace innovation and critical thinking, saying institutions must constantly adapt to changing global realities to remain relevant.
Reiterating the university’s commitment to human capital development, she said capacity building remains central to sustaining institutional growth and excellence.
In his remarks, the ANUPA President, Bem, described the workshop as a strategic platform for strengthening professionalism in university administration, noting that the sector requires specialised skills to respond to evolving challenges.
“There is a need to develop specialised skills for university administrators so they can adapt to the changing administrative environment,” he said.
He added that the increasing complexity of university systems, financial pressures and governance challenges demand that senior administrators rise beyond routine management and embrace strategic leadership.
“At this level of responsibility, our roles transcend administration; we are architects of institutional stability, custodians of governance frameworks, and drivers of reforms,” Bem said.
He described the training as more than a routine gathering, but a platform to recalibrate approaches, share experiences and develop innovative solutions to enhance institutional resilience and global competitiveness.
Bem urged participants to fully engage with the training, interact with resource persons and apply knowledge gained to improve administrative efficiency in their respective institutions.
Also speaking, the Registrar of the university, Dr. Bode Olofinmuagua, commended the Vice-Chancellor for supporting the programme and urged participants to pay close attention to resource persons.
The ANUPA Chairperson in the institution, Mrs. Folashade Daniel, called for sustained professionalism among administrators, stressing the need for stronger commitment to effective university governance.
The workshop also featured the presentation of awards to the Vice-Chancellor and other distinguished contributors in recognition of their support for capacity building in the university system.
