The Directorate of Staff Training and Development, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in its bid to improve the productivity and efficiency of staff, has organised a leadership training programme for Principal Assistant Registrars (PARs) and the Senior Assistant Registrars (SARs) of the university. 

The 4-day training, facilitated by ICEU-Noble Properties Nigeria Ltd., was tagged: “Developing Effective Leadership Skills for Strategic Decision-Making,” and was held at the university headquarters in Abuja, which had in attendance staff from various study centres across the country.

During the opening ceremony of the programme, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Technology, Innovation and Research, Prof. Godwin Akper, urged the participants to take advantage of the opportunity given to them to learn more about their duties as top administrators. 

He commended the NOUN Registrar, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, for his hard work and called on him to set out a day in which the participants would visit some notable public offices around the Federal Capital Territory. 

This, according to him, would encourage them to see how things are done in other parastatals thereby making them more efficient especially in their interaction with people.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Technology, Innovation and Research, Prof. Godwin Akper representing the VC

The Registrar,  while responding, appreciated the office of the Vice-Chancellor for the constant support given towards the training and re-training of administrative staff and charged the participants to take the training seriously.

“We are at a level that you can be appointed as the Registrar of a university. I’m saying this with all sincerity. You have gotten to a stage that you should be able to assess yourselves and know if you are worthy of being appointed. 

"I’m aware of someone who was recently appointed as a Registrar from being a PAR. You have reached that point when you should know about management decisions,” Ajayi stated, who also remarked that the request of the  representative of the VC would be looked into.

The Director, Staff Training and Development, represented by a PAR in the directorate, Ms. Mabel Madu, extended her sincere gratitude to the VC for approving the training programme and for his unwavering support towards staff development. 

She also appreciated the facilitators for their willingness to share their expertise and urged them to create a healthy learning space for the participants.

“To our distinguished participants, thank you for accepting our invitation to acquire knowledge and enhance your skills. I hope that at the end of this training exercise, you will apply your knew knowledge in your respective offices and also share your experience with your colleagues,” Madu said.

The training, according to one of the facilitators, Dr. Osa-Prosper, was structured to provide a comprehensive approach to developing effective leadership skills for strategic decision-making, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application and reflection.

Osa-Prosper, lectured the participants on the Foundation of Leadership and Strategic Thinking: Understanding Leadership; Introduction to Strategic Thinking and Aligning Leadership and Strategy, among other topics.