Nigerian universities have been called upon to embrace Artificial Intelligence AI to drive research breakthroughs and innovation for the growth and development of the country.
The Chairman of the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) Doctor Bala Ahmed stated this during the Third workshop of the Association held at the Kaduna State University.
Dr Bala Ahmed who is also the Registrar Nasarawa State University stressed that adequate awareness campaign in the universities must be carried out to address teaching and learning gaps in line with global best practice.
“as Registrars, the custodians of university governance, records, and administrative frameworks, we must ask ourselves how we can be more intentional, strategic, and reform-
oriented in steering our institutions toward greater relevance”,he said.
He explained that the goal of the workshop was to bring experts and professionals to stimulate a national discourse on University Ranking and the way forward for Nigerian Universities.
“our committee has identified several factors negatively impacting nigerian universities global rankings to include: chronic underfunding and dilapidated infrastructure; Disruptions in academic calendars due to industrial actions.
Others are the continued exodus of top academic talent (brain drain); Low research output and weak visibility in international academic publications”,he explained
The Registrar further added that insufficient international collaborations and institutional partnerships together with administrative bottlenecks contributes in discouraging innovation and reform.
In a message,Executive Secretary National University Commission Professor Abudullahi Ribadu aknowledged University registrars as the backbone of thier institutions that serves as custodians of records through regulations compliance for the smooth
functioning of academic and administrative processes.
Professor Abudullahi Ribadu commended the association for organizing the workshop ,while
calling on the participants to develop lasting strategies that will strengthen the academic administrative
frameworks in line with global best practices.
In her remarks,the registrar Kaduna State University Mrs Samira Balarabe, called on the government at all levels to understand that different universities in the country have their peculiar nature hence the need for careful handling.
“education is an evolving thing,as everyday there are new things coming up like the artificial intelligence which has broaden our horizon to different practices hence the need for all the necessary support to be given for the good and generality of the students.
“The Registrars’ Association aims to bring together all administrators of Nigerian universities so that we can all be on the same page by learning better practices and unlearning archaic ones. Students from all universities in Nigeria should be at the same level in terms of curriculum content, interpretation of the laws, and other related matters,” she stated.
The 3rd Registrars workshop and 77th Business Meeting with the theme “University Ranking in the face of global competitiveness:the way forward for Nigerian Universities brought together Registrars from all over the country to chart a way forward in line with global best practice.
Cov/Teddy Daniel
