Resource persons at an ongoing workshop at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, all agree there is a need for administrative officers to leverage digitization and be adaptive to other modern administrative trends to be able to transform organizations and enhance service delivery.
The five-day event, themed ‘Modern Administrative Trends for Efficient Service Delivery in 21st Century Organizations in Nigeria’, started on Tuesday, facilitated by the TASUED Consultancy Limited for principal & administrative officers of public/private and corporate organizations in South-West Nigeria.
In his welcome remarks while declaring the workshop open, the vice chancellor of TASUED, Prof. Oluwole Banjo, noted that the modern society is shifting towards a more interconnected and technologically driven environment and that it is imperative to re-equip administrators with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate through the complexities of the 21st century.
Represented by Prof Adekunle Adeogun, the vice chancellor said it had become imperative to embrace digitization, automation and data-driven decision making for effective service delivery.
“This training workshop aims to do just that, by providing a platform for the exchange of ideas, best practices and innovative strategies,” he noted.
He said participants at the workshop would be expected to engage in intensive sessions and collaborative discussions, which would provide opportunity for deep learning and exploration of innovative ideas, as well as facilitate the process of finding creative solutions to challenges.
Prof Banjo thanked the sponsors, who he said had generously supported the workshop, and appreciated the organizing committee “for their dedication, tireless efforts and meticulous planning” in bringing the workshop into fruition.
Earlier, the Director TASUED Consultancy Limited, Prof Bayo Akinsanya, had explained that the event was designed to rejuvenate staffers and update them with current administrative approaches and methods for improved functionality in the workplaces.
He expressed optimism about the success of the programme given the quality of qualified and resourceful facilitators brought together.
A keynote speaker and Commissioner for Education in Ogun State, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, noted that following the unpredictability and ever-changing dynamics of the business environment, it had become critical for organizations to keep pace with the latest administrative trends.
He said one of such trends is digitization, and that he was delighted that TASUED is taking the lead in this development.
According to him, digitization enhances productivity, streamlines administrative processes, reduces wastage, improves service delivery, and gives better understanding of customers/clients.
“By making informed decisions based on data, organisations can optimize their service delivery processes, identify areas for improvement, and respond effectively to changes,” he added.
Arigbabu also spoke about the importance of laying emphasis on employee empowerment, as well as diversity.
Given the rapid pace of change, organisations must adopt the mindset of continuous learning and adaptability. Administrators must encourage the culture of innovation where employees are encouraged to explore new ideas,” he added.
Another resource person and registrar of the university, Mr Dapo Oke, gave a presentation on ‘Effective, Efficient Service Delivery in Modern Day Organisations’.
He noted that for an administrator to be successful in service delivery, there must be objectives to achieve, and a timeline for achieving them.
He also stressed that to be efficient, an administrator must be able to make the best use of available resources in the achievement of organizational goals, and must be able to use conceptual human and technical skills to avoid time wasting.
To achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness in a corporate organization, Oke noted, an administrator must develop the scientific, technological and management skills in problem solving and its application to administrative businesses.
“Professionals must have an internal and global strategic view of best practices with competitive above-average returns in their lines of duties.
“The personnel must combine organizational, communication and technological skills capable of promoting an effective and efficient service delivery system to make situations where there will be barest minimum waste but high level of success and optimum results in the organizational goals,” he stressed.
Another resource person on the opening day of the workshop, Chief Mojisola Ladipo, spoke on ‘Emotional Intelligence, Women in Administration and Executive Presence for Effective Human Resource Management’.
She stressed the importance of understanding the impact of emotional intelligence in interpersonal relationships; as well as developing executive presence skills.
According to her, a successful administrator must be able to make effective use of people to provide better returns on investment to the organization.
To be efficient as an administrator, she added, there must be the ability to produce the intended results using the least time, effort and resources.
A successful administrator, she noted, must also be able to meet the needs of employees as individuals and the business as an entity; he or she must demonstrate the ability to navigate between precision and consistency on the one hand, and flexibility and intuition on the other.
He/she must also master the art of influencing people to become the best version of themselves through creating positive relationships.
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