The Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, is hosting the Northern Zone edition of the 2026 National Training Workshop of the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA), bringing together senior university administrators from institutions across the North Central, North East and North West geopolitical zones.

The workshop, themed “Advancing University Resilience Through Effective Strategic Governance, Administrative Excellence and Institutional Sustainability,” was formally declared open by the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Uno Essang Uno.
In his address, Professor Kuta described the workshop as timely and relevant to the evolving demands of university administration.

He commended ANUPA for its commitment to continuous professional development through regular training programmes designed to equip university administrators with contemporary knowledge and skills.
Professor Kuta stressed the critical role of professional administrators in safeguarding institutional records and maintaining confidentiality, noting that effective records management is fundamental to institutional sustainability.

“As professional administrators, we must ensure that vital institutional documents are properly preserved and secured. Records dating back to 1983 are still available in this university whenever they are needed for reference. This underscores the importance of diligent records management,” he said.
In his opening address, ANUPA National President, Dr Victor Mkuma Bem, said the workshop theme speaks directly to the realities confronting Nigerian universities, including governance challenges, financial pressures, increasing institutional complexity and rapid technological change.

According to him, the carefully selected sub-themes—including administrative data analytics, digital transformation, conflict resolution, ethical governance, sustainable funding and succession planning—are designed to strengthen the strategic leadership capacity of senior university administrators.
“Our roles transcend routine administration. We are architects of institutional stability, custodians of governance frameworks and drivers of reforms that will shape the future of Nigerian universities,” Dr Bem said.

He described the workshop as a strategic platform for participants to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop innovative solutions that would strengthen institutional resilience and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian universities.
Dr Bem also commended participants for their commitment to professional development and urged them to maximise the learning opportunities provided during the workshop.

Speaking with journalists, ANUPA National Public Relations Officer and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR), Onyinye Ralph-Nwachukwu, described ANUPA as the training arm of the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU), dedicated to building the capacity of university professional administrators across federal, state and private universities.
She explained that while ANUPA organises training programmes across the country’s geopolitical zones, the Northern Zone edition brings together participants from the North Central, North East and North West to deepen professional competence and strengthen collaboration.

“The essence of this training is to ensure that university professional administrators continue to acquire new knowledge and skills that will ultimately translate into improved efficiency, professionalism and better service delivery in our universities,” she said.
Participants were drawn from several institutions, including the Federal University of Technology, Minna; Sule Lamido University, Jigawa State; Northwest University, Kano; Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi; Confluence University, Lokoja; Kogi State University, Kabba; and Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

Others included Veritas University, Abuja; Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba; Bayero University, Kano; the University of Maiduguri; Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi; Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; and the Federal University of Education, Kontagora.
The workshop features technical sessions, paper presentations and interactive discussions aimed at strengthening strategic governance, administrative excellence and institutional sustainability in Nigerian universities.