UI Registrar Calls for Digital Transformation in Varsities

​OGBOMOSO — The Registrar of the University of Ibadan, Ganiyu Saliu, has challenged Nigerian tertiary institutions to transition their administrative registries from traditional paper-based frameworks into agile, data-driven, and strategic hubs for institutional advancement.

​Delivering a lecture titled ‘The Future-Ready University Registry: Leading Institutional Transformation in an Era of Change’ at the 12th Annual Registry Discourse of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Saliu emphasized that the registry serves as the core operational engine of any university. He noted that academic institutions currently navigate a volatile and complex landscape characterized by declining government funding, infrastructure deficits, and rising student enrollment, which necessitates innovative administrative reforms.

​Warning against the vulnerabilities of manual record-keeping, Saliu pointed out that relying heavily on physical files exposes vital institutional archives to hazards such as fire, water damage, and natural deterioration while frustrating basic procedures like transcript processing and staff appraisals. He advocated for the full adoption of Electronic Document Management Systems, integrated central databases, and complete end-to-end automation spanning student admissions through alumni relations.

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​Echoing similar sentiments during the discourse, LAUTECH Vice-Chancellor Prof. Razaq Kalilu observed that emerging tools like artificial intelligence can significantly optimize document classification, scheduling, and information retrieval. However, Kalilu cautioned that technology must serve strictly as a support mechanism rather than a replacement for human oversight, integrity, and sound professional judgment.

​LAUTECH Registrar Mrs. Olayinka Balogun also addressed attendees, highlighting the institution’s uninterrupted academic calendar as a testament to its enduring stability and growing reputation as a leading state university in Nigeria.