It is imperative to make the administrative cadre of tertiary institutions professional, the Registrar, University of Ilorin, Mrs. Olufolake Oyeyemi, has said.

She also said that universities must ensure regular training and retraining of their employees.

According to her, human capital development is fast becoming a business strategy, separating successful organisations from failed ones.

She spoke in Ilorin on Tuesday during an in-house training on ‘Higher education administration: The changing role of the registry in a new era.’

Oyeyemi stated that professionalism was needful because those who would administer modern day tertiary institutions must be employees who were versed in their jobs, thorough, competent and exemplary.

She added that they must possess some specialised knowledge and techniques, which would distinguish them from amateurs.

The registrar said, “At whatever level, the university administrator must be able to assert himself or herself and be ready to move in the direction of the wind of change blowing across the globe. Practitioners must demonstrate a good understanding of the vision, mission and the core values that drive their universities and key into them.

“Officers in charge of various schedules are expected to master their assignments competently to make them relevant in the organisation.

“They must be flexible in the application and interpretation of the rules and regulations of the university and be ready to recommend adjustments where necessary.”

Oyeyemi also said current administrators must possess high level of communication skills as an administrative weapon of expression.

“Human capital development remains very critical to university administrator if he must be relevant and fully equipped to face the challenges of 21st century university administration,” she said.