By Francis Sadhere

The Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Professor Victor Peretomode has urged Nigerian University Registrars to work in tandem with Vice Chancellors and other principal officers of universities to ensure that the mission and vision of the institutions are achieved.

Prof. Victor Peretomode, Vice Chancellor, DELSU.

Prof. Peretomode said this yesterday during the 60^th Business Meeting of the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) with the theme; “Repositioning the Registry Department for the 21^st Century Challenges of University Management” held at the Delta State University, Abraka.

The Delsu VC noted that things can only move along the targeted direction when the registrars work hand in hand with the Vice Chancellors and other principal officers of the university.

He said, “This is the major reason why at all times, it behooves on a Registrar worth his or her onion to draw the attention of the Vice Chancellor to areas of administration which he perceives needed overhauling. Such suggestions usually could be advanced to the management of the University for Consideration, and recommendation made to the Governing Council for deliberation and from this could emerge a policy that could help in the better positioning of the institution for achievement of its vision and mission statements.”

Prof. Peretomode said that the success or failure of the institution rest largely on the registrar, adding that the tenure of the registrar in an institution was assessed as that of the Vice Chancellor by way of quantity and quality of development brought in during the tenure of the registrar.

The Delsu VC, who had earlier reeled out the functions of a registrar in a university, also stressed that success of a university rests in the shoulders of the registrar and the Vice Chancellor.

While noting that the administration and management of universities in the country was becoming more complex and challenging, Prof. Peretomode advised registrars to think of alternative or additional sources of raising income to enable institutions meet up with the responsibility that would position them with continental and global competiveness in the comity of universities.

He also challenged ARNU to add to their role, the role of an initiator of ideas or policies to provoke national discourse, and provoking ARNU to examine and make recommendations on areas where no other courageous body dare to go.

Prof. Peretomode said, However, I want to challenge this forum to add additional role – that of initiator of ideas or policies, to provoke national discourse. For example, with retirement age now being 65, should; Promotions still be on 3 years basis or should it now be 4 or 5 years considering the several levels one has to pass through to become a deputy registrar and then a registrar?

“Should the appointment of a Registrar be 15 years post qualification administrative in a University experience in a University or more such as 18 to 22 years? Should promotion from one level to another be paid on some form of test/aptitude tests?”

On her part, the Chairman of ARNU, Mrs. Nuldee Matilda said she was pleased to know that Prof. Peretomode knows all the roles of a registrar, but lamented that unlike the DELSU VC, some Vice Chancellors of some Universities do not know the roles of their registrars.

She noted that ever since ARNU was reconstituted, there have been fewer rancors between university VCs and their Registrars, adding ARNU has instituted a study policy where some of their members have been sponsored abroad for training.

Mrs. Nuldee who thanked Prof. Peretomode for his advice said that in line with his advice, the association was already thinking of assisting their bosses (VCs) by way of looking at how to raise additional funds to run their various institutions.

The keynote address of the Business Meeting was given by the former Registrar of Niger Delta University and Federal University, Otueke, Mr. David Suowari.

In his keynote address, Mr. Suowari urged all university registrars to equip themselves with the latest knowledge of technology and education that will enable them to be efficient in carrying out their duties.

He said good registrar always thinks ahead of others since they manage information not known to others in the university environment, adding that they must also know all the functions and machineries of their job.

He also urged university registrars to have continuous interactions with their staff and also encourage them to harness their optimal performance in the job.