By Milicent Ifeanyichukwu

The immediate past Registrar of the University of Ibadan, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi, has urged university registrars to uphold academic integrity and not compromise educational standards.

Faluyi made this call during her presentation at the Trinity University Registry Lecture Series held on Thursday at the City Campus in Yaba.

The event, with the theme ‘Responding to the Dynamics of Change in University Governance: The Strategic Role of the Registrar’, addressed contemporary issues in academic administration.

She noted that maintaining academic integrity is crucial in enhancing education quality and tackling challenges like plagiarism and fraudulent academic institutions.

Faluyi stressed the need for vigilance regarding academic practices, especially concerning institutions both locally and internationally.

She encouraged registrars to develop sustainable strategies that would strengthen university administrative frameworks in line with global best practices.

“Registrars must align with global standards to enhance their institutions’ administrative capacity and respond effectively to emerging governance demands,” she said.

Faluyi highlighted the evolving landscape of university governance, citing policy shifts, technological change, and rising stakeholder expectations.

“The Registry must act as custodian of institutional memory, anchor of regulatory compliance, and enabler of governance reforms,” she added.

She said the Registry’s strategic role ensures continuity, stability, and responsiveness during institutional transformations.

Looking ahead, she described the Registry not merely as an administrative arm but as a key player in shaping university governance.

“Its contribution to a culture of excellence, integrity and responsiveness will be vital in meeting future challenges,” she said.

In his remarks, Trinity University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Clement Kolawole, said the lecture would enrich the institution’s academic and administrative culture.

Kolawole urged government to revisit the policy excluding private universities from benefiting from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

He described the exclusion as a major challenge, noting that private universities also play significant roles in the education sector.

He called on policymakers to review the fund’s eligibility criteria to include private institutions and promote inclusive development.

“Our students are Nigerians, and their parents are taxpayers like those in public universities.

“Including private universities in TETFund would boost infrastructure and research, and ensure fairer resource distribution,” he noted.

He added that this would help raise the quality of education and enhance graduates’ global competitiveness.

In his opening remarks, the institution’s Registrar, Mr David Oyejide, said the event was designed to facilitate knowledge sharing and professional engagement.

He described the lecture as an annual initiative to promote collaboration, spark innovative ideas, and adapt to emerging academic trends.

He added that the event will support professional development and continuous learning among registry staff.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to professionalism, one of our university’s core values,” Oyejide said.

He stressed the vital role administrators play in university growth and policy implementation.

Oyejide described the Registry as the backbone of the institution, ensuring smooth operations and safeguarding academic records.

He said the lecture’s theme was chosen to reflect the evolving responsibilities of registrars in governance reform.

The event was attended by registrars from institutions including UNILAG, YABATECH, and Redeemer’s University. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo