… Calls for technology-driven administrative culture in polytechnics

The Head of Service of Ondo State, Segun Odusanya, has urged registry professionals in tertiary institutions to embrace digital transformation and professional excellence as essential requirements for meeting the evolving demands of modern education administration.

According to Odusanya, the call became imperative at a time Nigerian polytechnics were grappling with the need to modernize administrative processes in response to rapidly changing technological landscapes.

Odusanya stated this while presenting the keynote address at the Registry Staff Retreat of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, which convened on Thursday under the theme, “Enhancing Digital Skills and Professional Excellence in Registry Practice for Polytechnic Education in the 21st Century.”

The retreat brought together registry staff from across the institution to deliberate on strategies for repositioning administrative functions in an increasingly digital era.

According to the Head of Service, the retreat’s theme reflects an urgent and unavoidable necessity to transform registry departments into technology-driven and professionally competent administrative hubs capable of effectively supporting the changing realities of tertiary education.

He emphasised that the traditional approaches to registry practice can no longer adequately meet contemporary challenges, noting that digital technologies have transformed the way organisations operate, communicate and deliver services.

Describing the Registry as the institutional memory and administrative engine of any higher institution, Odusanya stressed that its responsibilities span admissions, student records, examinations, staff documentation, policy implementation, correspondence, and data management.

He stressed that the functions must evolve to remain relevant and effective in serving the needs of modern polytechnic education.

“Digital transformation is no longer an option; it is an imperative. Our ability as a polytechnic to remain competitive, efficient, and responsive will depend significantly on how effectively we integrate technology into our administrative processes. We must therefore move beyond simply using computers for routine documentation to developing a truly digital administrative culture.”

The Head of Service urged registry professionals to embrace electronic records management, automated workflows, digital correspondence, online student services, data analytics, virtual meetings, and secure information storage systems as critical tools for improving service delivery and reducing bureaucracy.

He emphasized that these technologies would not only enhance efficiency but also significantly reduce the administrative bottlenecks that have historically plagued registry operations in Nigerian institutions.

While advocating for adoption of technology, Odusanya stated that digital tools can only be effective when managed by competent personnel.

The Head of Service also reeled out the Ondo State Government’s commitment to digital governance under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, noting that significant investments in electronic document management systems, online workflow platforms, and digital performance tools are already improving efficiency and transparency across public institutions.

He expressed confidence that similar progress would be achieved in the polytechnic sector through sustained commitment to digital transformation.

On his part, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Dr. Ademola Iyanda Ebeloku, described the retreat as a platform for renewal, capacity building, and institutional transformation rather than a routine annual event.

Ebeloku encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and apply the knowledge gained to improve registry operations, service delivery, and institutional performance, emphasizing that the retreat represented a strategic investment in the institution’s future.

The Rector also stressed the importance of data security and confidentiality in the digital era, warning that institutions must develop robust systems to protect records from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse.

He commended the Polytechnic’s Registrar for introducing the electronic appraisal system, describing it as a significant innovation that has enhanced administrative efficiency and substantially reduced the burden associated with the production of appraisal forms.

Similarly, Deputy Registrar in the Division of Academic Affairs, Mr. Oluyemi Bamidele, emphasized that student records management and registry operations remain critical to the effective administration and growth of the institution.

He noted that accurate information management, secure technology, ethical conduct, and competent personnel are vital to ensuring efficient and transparent registry services that would uphold the institution’s academic integrity.