The Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA) has held a four-day national training workshop for senior university administrators in the South-South region at the University of Port Harcourt.
The workshop, themed “Advancing University Resilience through Effective Strategic Governance, Administrative Excellence and Institutional Sustainability,” brought together participants from various universities across the region in a shared effort to strengthen administrative capacity and promote best practices in university governance.
Declaring the zonal training open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt Professor Owunari Georgewill, described the training as both timely and necessary, given the rapid changes taking place in the university system.
He noted that university administrators remain central to institutional stability, stressing that continuous training is essential to help them remain effective in their roles.
According to him, “The academic landscape is changing, and there is need for continuous training of administrators. The administrators are the backbone of Nigerian universities, especially the Registry, and they must continue to develop in their knowledge, intellect, and experience on how to run the university.”
Professor Georgewill also commended ANUPA for the quality of the training programme, adding that the carefully selected resource persons and topics would expose participants to practical knowledge and modern approaches that can improve university administration.
He further described the initiative as a step in the right direction for strengthening institutional efficiency across Nigerian universities.
In an opening address, the National President of ANUPA, Dr. Victor Mkuma Bem, said the workshop was designed to build the capacity of professional administrators who, according to him, remain the engine room of the university system.
He emphasised the need for continuous upskilling, noting that administrators must evolve with changing demands in the academic environment to remain relevant and effective.
“The essence is to bring professional administrators up to speed, because registry administrators are the engine room of universities. They need to be updated and upskilled to move with the changing administrative environment,” he said.
Dr. Bem encouraged members who were unable to attend the South-South edition to take advantage of future zonal trainings scheduled across the country.
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In her remarks, the National Public Relations Officer of ANUPA, Onyinye Ralph-Nwachukwu, explained that the association adopted a zonal training approach this year to ensure wider inclusion and participation.
She noted that the decision was aimed at bringing the training closer to members across the six geopolitical zones, rather than concentrating it in a single location.
“For the South-South, universities in the region are gathered here in Port Harcourt,” she said, adding that the workshop also caters to both senior and junior administrative staff, including directors, deputy registrars, assistant registrars, and administrative officers.
According to her, the training is designed to expose participants to modern administrative practices, emerging technologies, and more efficient ways of working, while also encouraging the abandonment of outdated methods.
The workshop is expected to strengthen governance structures, improve efficiency in service delivery, and promote institutional sustainability across Nigerian universities.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of special recognition to the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar of the University of Port Harcourt by the National leadership of ANUPA, in appreciation of their support.
