Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, Vice-Chancellor of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, has urged the institution’s workers to acquire 21st century skills to enhance efficiency and productivity.
Ologunorisa stated this at the 74th Regular Statutory Meeting of Zonal Executive Council, Western Zone of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), held at the university’s main auditorium on Friday.
He described SSANU as a machinery of progress, stability and development in universities, saying that their roles could not be over-emphasised, especially in the area of supporting and cooperating with management to move universities forward.
Ologunorisa stressed the need for union members to update themselves, even as he enjoined them to work together as a team.
“I implore SSANU members to acquire 21st century skills to enhance their efficiency, productivity and effective delivery in executing their duties,” he said.
The vice-chancellor also highlighted some of the challenges facing universities in Nigeria to include: inadequate funding and good governance, among others.
While stating that universities needed proper funding to ensure effective running, he urged universities governing councils to be more considerate in their policies and be more transparent.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Abdussobur Olayiwola-Salaam, the National Vice-President and Chairman Western Zone of SSANU, commended Ologunorisa for his support and for running a transparent administration in the university.
Olayiwola-Salaam, however, urged state governments to address the challenges of funding currently facing most state-owned universities in the country.
He also called for cooperation of state governments with SSANU in their various institutions for optimum service delivery.
While commending the OAUSTECH management for a job well done, he assured that SSANU would continue to support universities’ managements as long as they continued to remain transparent in the running of the institutions.
Earlier, the SSANU Chairman, OAUSTECH chapter, Mr Temidayo Temola, appreciated the institution’s management for being labour-friendly and for prioritising the welfare of staff members through prompt payment of salary and effecting staff promotion as and when due.
Temola also thanked SSANU leadership for their unwavering support, adding that the association had greatly impacted the development of the university in the last eight years.
“We will continue to agitate for the improvement of staff welfare and introduction of welfare scheme that caters for sundry needs, while articulating representation of members at different for a, among others,” Temola said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion was attended by representatives of ASUU, NASU and National Association of Academic Technologist (NAAT). (NAN)