On September 13, 2023, members of the National Institute of Office Administrators and Information Managers (NIOAIM) paid a courtesy visit to the University of Ibadan’s Registrar. One of her staff members, Mrs. V.O. Onche, the Secretary to the Registrar and also a Fellow of NIOAIM, welcomed the NIOAIM team into her office. The team was directed to the Registry Conference Room, where the meeting was held, by Mr. Abiodun T. Akindele, the Head of the Department of the Registrar’s Office, in order to await the arrival of the Registrar. Right on schedule, the meeting started at 10.30 a.m. The Registrar, Mr. Ganiu Oke Saliu introduced the other two principal officers present: The Deputy Registrar for Human Resources and Development (Non-Teaching), Mr. Olusola Dada, and the Head of the Department of the Registrar’s Office, Mr. Abiodun T. Akindele, to the NIOAIM team.

Mr. Saliu welcomed NIOAIM representatives to the University. Thereafter, Dr. Sophia V.  Adeyeye introduced herself as the Acting President of the institute, stating that the President, Dr. Tolulope E. Adenekan, is out of the country to the United States of America. She further introduced Mr. O. Ojo (PRO), Mr. O. J. Ige (AGS), Mrs. V. O. Ahamze (Treasurer II), and Mrs. Rita Ajibola (a Fellow Member). Dr. Adeyeye said it is a pleasure to be at the University where she earned her first, second, and third degrees. She thanked the Registrar, on behalf of the President and NIOAIM Executives, for giving us the privilege to meet with him and his team. She asserted that National Institute of Office Administrators and Information Managers (NIOAIM) felt it was a good thing to pay a courtesy visit to the Registrar to attract professionals in institutions like the University of Ibadan that has a culture of professionalism. Hence, the Institute craves the Registrar’s indulgence and permission to meet with the University’s secretaries and other information management staff so as to talk to them about the benefits of joining NIOAIM. She further informed the Registrar’s team that NIOAIM is duly registered, and also have an active journal namely International Journal of Office Administration and Information Management. The institute offers professional training for her members in order to reposition them to fit into the fourth industrial revolution. The capacity building session comes up quarterly and it is being facilitated by various professionals in the Institute. In her conclusion, NIOAIM observed her first Conference two years ago, and the second one will be held in February 2024. She once again thanked the Registrar for allowing us to meet with them.

The Acting President of the institute, Dr. Sophia V.  Adeyeye, speaking at the event

The Registrar inquired about the category of staff the institute targets. He was informed that the institute targets all staff who handle information, whether as administrators, secretaries, information managers, health information managers, librarians, and so on. The registrar said he initially thought we were meeting with the secretaries, not knowing the institute is open to all other staff who handle information. He promised to allow us to talk to their staff during the non-teaching staff general meeting with the registry at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan. The registrar relayed the challenge the university had with the Association of Secretaries at one time. He said the association was conflicting with the union instead of being an association of professionals. He was of the opinion that our institute is not unionist. The registrar appreciated the fact that our institute’s capacity building and training will help to improve their staff’s service delivery. He then promised to encourage their secretaries and other targeted staff to join our institute. According to him, knowledge is very important in today’s technological era, and joining an institute like ours would enhance the competencies and technical know-how of their staff. The registrar thanked NIOAIM representatives for the visit, and the team proceeded to meet with the secretarial staff of the university.

At the meeting, the registrar introduced all the NIOAIM representatives to the secretaries and other staff in attendance. He then asked the Ag President to officially introduce the institute to members. The Registrar was appreciated for the opportunity to talk to their staff and explained in detail the goal of the National Institute of Office Administrators and Information Managers (NIOAIM) and how the institute will be of great benefit to all the secretaries and staff who handle information in their various offices. She noted that the institute sharpens members’ skills and competencies to enable them to move from where they are now to a place of accomplishment. NIOAIM has members in various organizations and institutions across Nigeria. She noted the categories of membership and informed them that their current educational qualifications and work experience would determine their membership status. They were implored to join the NIOAIM, while she reintroduced the NIOAIM representatives again, including Mrs. V.O. Onche, a Fellow of the Institute and the Secretary to the Registrar of the University.

The Acting President of NIOAIM, Dr. Sophia V.  Adeyeye, presenting the Institute’s gift to the UI Registrar, Mr. Ganiu Oke Saliu

The registrar requested all the attendees to freely ask questions relevant to the meeting. Questions asked include how to be a member, categories of staff that can join the institute, and possible benefits of membership. The Ag. President responded that all staff that handles information at different levels are qualified to join the Institute. The Institute positions members to meet the current needs of the business environment through a quarterly capacity-building session and trains them to render excellent service delivery at all times. She further noted the academic exposure and professional development involved in members participation in the institute’s conference. The first was held in 2022, and the next will be held in February or March 2024. They were informed about the categories of membership (student, associate, professional, fellow, and honorary fellow) and their financial dues, which include registration, induction, and annual dues. The attendees were implored to visit the institute’s website, www.nioaim.org, to obtain detailed information about the institute. In addition, Dr. Adeyeye said the attendees can download and read some of the journal articles published by a subsidiary of the Institute, the International Journal of Office Administration and Information Management (IJOAIM), from the website. NIOAIM representatives were all applauded by the attendees as they rose to depart from the meeting at 11.41 a.m. The Registrar, Mr. Saliu, appreciated members and directed the Deputy Registrar, Human Resources and Development (Academics), Mr. S. O. Oyewumi, to accompany members out on his behalf as he was still addressing the staff.

From the left, The HOD. Registrar’s Office, Mr. A. T. Akindele; Mr. O. Ojo (PRO of NIOAIM); The Deputy Registrar [Human Resources and Development (Non-Teaching)] Mr. O. Dada; Mrs. V.O. Onche (The Registrar’s Secretary& Fellow of NIOAIM), The U.I. Registrar, Mr. G. O. Saliu; Dr. S.V Adeyeye; (Ag. President of NIOAIM); Mrs. V. O. Ahamze (Treasurer II, NIOAIM), The Deputy Registrar [Human Resources and Development (Academics)], Mr. S. O. Oyewumi; Mr. O. J. Ige (AGS NIOAIM); and Mrs. Rita Ajibola (Fellow of NIOAIM).