R-L: The Representative of the Rector, Dr. Engr. Ismail Badmus presenting Plaque to the 1st Valedictorian of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Julius Ayobami Sonibare held Yusuf Grillo Auditorium.
By Peace Udugba
Sonibare advocates mentorship, stronger institutional processes, long-term planning
An outgoing Deputy Registrar of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Julius Ayobami Sonibare, has called for purpose-driven administration, effective decision-making, mentorship and strategic human-capacity development to promote sustainable growth in tertiary institutions.
Sonibare made the call while delivering the first Valedictory Lecture in the history of the College, where he urged administrators, academics and other professionals to look beyond routine official responsibilities and understand the broader purpose of their assignments.
Cross-section of the principal officers of Yaba College of Technology with the valedictorian of the College’s inaugural Valedictory Lecture, Dr. Julius Ayobami Sonibare, and his wife, at the Yusuf Grillo Auditorium.
In his lecture titled “The Motives, Meaning and Architecture of Human Struggles,” the mathematician and seasoned administrator said institutional success depended not only on structures and activities but also on the motives, intentions, circumstances and choices that shaped decisions and determined outcomes.
He urged workers to identify the purpose behind their responsibilities, noting that every assignment, regardless of its size or status, offered opportunities for learning, professional development and preparation for greater responsibilities.
Sonibare cautioned against undermining seemingly minor assignments, stressing that experience acquired through routine duties could become valuable in handling more complex administrative challenges.
Drawing from his professional experience, he advocated workplace learning, mentorship and the free exchange of knowledge across all levels of an organisation.
He maintained that senior officers should remain open to learning from junior colleagues and subordinates, emphasising that professional knowledge was not the exclusive preserve of those occupying higher positions.
On institutional governance, the outgoing Deputy Registrar called for improved administrative processes, particularly in the preparation of memoranda, briefs, meeting agendas and decision extracts.
According to him, effective decision-making begins at departmental and operational levels, where issues must be properly identified, documented and presented to management and governing authorities for consideration.
He stressed that administrators had a critical responsibility to provide accurate information, sound professional advice and appropriate recommendations to decision-makers, warning that poorly prepared memoranda and inadequate guidance could result in inappropriate institutional decisions.
He therefore urged registry professionals and other administrative officers to ensure that submissions to management were properly researched, objective and aligned with organisational goals.
Sonibare also advocated a long-term approach to policy formulation and decision-making, identifying time as a major factor in determining the success or failure of institutional interventions.
He cautioned against judging every decision solely by its immediate consequences, explaining that some decisions that might appear less attractive in the short term could deliver greater benefits in the future.
Illustrating the importance of purpose over immediate financial rewards, he recalled choosing to remain at YABATECH despite having an alternative employment opportunity with considerably higher financial benefits.
He explained that the professional exposure, experience and opportunities for growth offered by the College were more valuable to his long-term career aspirations.
He consequently advised workers to consider the long-term implications of their career decisions rather than allowing immediate financial benefits to dictate every professional choice.
The lecturer further called for a collaborative approach to institutional administration, stressing that organisational objectives could only be achieved when every member of staff understood and effectively discharged their responsibilities.
Defining administration as the conversion of purpose into action, Sonibare said lecturers, administrators, technologists and other categories of employees were all essential to translating institutional policies and objectives into practical achievements.
He urged tertiary institutions to strengthen the link between policy formulation and implementation by ensuring that staff at all levels understood how their individual responsibilities contributed to the overall institutional mandate.
In his remarks, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, who welcomed guests and declared the lecture open, described the inaugural engagement as a deliberate effort to establish a culture of recognising excellence among the College’s teaching and non-teaching workforce.
He emphasised that institutional development was a collective responsibility, adding that the contributions of non-teaching staff deserved recognition just as those of academic staff.
The Registrar, Mrs. Henrietta Adebola Badejo, read the citation of the valedictorian, while the Deputy Rector, Dr. Engr. Ismail Badmus, delivered the Rector’s address on his behalf.
