On Monday, 13th July 2020, Landmark University set again an exemplary record of excellence in driving strategic capacity building and intentional organizational productivity with a maiden Registry’s webinar aimed at enhancing the thinking process and engagement modality of the University’s administrative staff towards maximizing the opportunities of the change in the modus of Operandi occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic. 

As the administrative hub of the University, Landmark Registry under the aegis of a professional administrator of repute, Miss Adefunke Fola Oyinloye recently initiated a new dimension of online training and retraining scheme for the administrative staff of the University with a view to scaling up their professional capability for continuous and effective service delivery during and after COVID-19 situations. 

In total commitment to the compelling capacity building core value of the University, the Registrar had earlier initiated and inspired her administrative staff into holding mandatory, serial online in-house training which culminated in the Registry’s maiden webinar in the annals of the University.

Setting the pace in the University’s Webinar series was the School of Postgraduate Studies which held its debut webinar on Wednesday, 27th May 2020. These moves in the right directions attest to the purposeful stride being taken by Landmark University Management towards attaining global relevance and impact.

At this phenomenal webinar, Landmark Registry hosted on virtual platform Dr Yetunde Anibaba, a seasoned education consultant and senior member of faculty at the Lagos Business School, who treated the Landmark Administrators to an inspiring presentation titled “Transcending Disruption: Learning the Essentials for Continuous Relevance in a Workplace.” She tasked Administrative Staff of the University on the requirements to succeed in their engagements regardless of the current change, stressing that as much as change is constant, its crucial role in personal and organizational development can only be achieved when approached with the positive mindset and productive responses. 

Putting the use of the word ‘normal’ in perspective, Dr Anibaba called Pre-COVID era the normal, the current situation the new normal while life after COVID the next normal, adding that more new normal situations will evolve as global events keep unfolding, the change of which will necessitate a review of approach which she encouraged the participants to always get prepared for. She advised the participants to resist the instinct of operating in limbo and opting for living in denial of the reality. Rather, they are to familiarize themselves with the new normal and become agile thinkers as they engage in rethink, reinvigorate, react and reinvent, to maintain relevance. 

Dr Anibaba stated that human beings are inevitably confronted with change that demands their swift adaptability for continuous existence, successful operations and progressive stride. She noted that a lot of ‘old normal’ (things) have changed in a school system, itemising for instance, the non-existence of physical engagement, transition from face-to-face to online, unprecedented demand for online skills, e-exams, e-matriculation, e-graduation among others which have become the ‘new normal’ and would also give way to the ‘next normal’ as situations unfold – life after COVID-19. She, therefore, urged participants to watch out for the next normal and many more and respond to them appropriately for the sake of posterity and prosperity. 

Affirming technology as a driver of change, Dr Anibaba motivated her audience to leverage opportunities which fast-paced technology offers people per time to switch from the conservative tradition to progressive modernity where future can be adequately envisioned to sustain continuous impacts. In this light, she emphasized continuous training that can bring about the stability of one’s organization supportive of driving its values and objectives.

Most salient in her presentation was the in-depth analysis of Agility, an indispensable requirement for driving not only relevance in a workplace but also personal and organizational values in the society. 

The thrust of Dr Anibaba’s presentation, therefore, is a pertinent charge to Landmark Administrators to respond appropriately to change with a premium priority placed on actualizing the Vision and Mission of the University.

Dr Anibaba reverenced the Chancellor, David Oyedepo for the Vision of the University, his exemplary leadership acumen and agility disposition to addressing challenges. She also commended the Management of the University for her commitment to adapting quickly to the new normal as evinced in the remarks of the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar.

While appreciating Dr Anibaba for the enlightening webinar that is capable of repositioning the University’s administrative staff for productive operation, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adeniyi Olayanju, commended the initiative of the Registry, under the aegis of the Registrar, Miss Adefunke Fola Oyinloye, noting her passion for the development of the administrative arm of the University. The Vice-Chancellor reiterated the commitment of Management to creating a conducive environment that will facilitate seamless operation towards the actualisation of the overarching vision of the University regardless of the COVID-19 situation. 

Welcoming the administrative staff earlier, the Registrar, Miss Adefunke Fola Oyinloye, had stated that though man may not be able to deter the occurrence of change, they have the privileged capacity to effectively manage change and turn it around for their advantage. She made reference to the University Management’s swift transition from the normal to the new normal, leveraging technology for continuous operations in academic contacts, recruitment and admission exercises, staging of meetings and webinars, etc. She encouraged the participants to avail themselves of the webinar opportunity to enrich their capacity for improved service delivery, noting the intellectual pedigree and professional track record of the facilitator brought on board.

The major participants at the webinar, the administrators, made up of eleven training groups occupied the University’s International Conference Centre and International Exhibition Centre with strict adherence to safety protocols. On virtual attendance were Landmark University Management team, some members of faculty and Mrs Damilola Oluwaniyi from Covenant University, Ota, among who made contributions during the Question and Answer Session. After the presentation by the facilitator, the participants had a brainstorming session which culminated in the generation of communique. Thereafter, members of the University administrative staff expressed unlimited joy over the impact of the webinar, saying that it had activated a positive perspective to the disruption associated with the change and opened them to new vistas of opportunities.

The ambience of the Centres, the giant screens at the Centres, uninterrupted internet facilities, stable power supply with inspiring directives of the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar from their e-offices made the outing exciting and rewarding. The role of the technical support from the competent and indefatigable hands from the CSIS and DPPD cannot be overstated. The spirit of teamwork that engendered the success of the webinar is obviously at work in moving Landmark to the global limelight of relevance.