The rector, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, has averred that governance today faces multifarious difficulties to pave way for a culture in public service.
He gave this stance at a public lecture featuring the presentation of a compendium titled “The Man, The Rule and The Pen,” in honour of YABATECH’s immediate past registrar, Dr. Sikiru Olukayode Momodu, to mark the end of his tenure.
In his welcome address, the rector said there was a need to foster a culture in public service that upholds the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability.
According to him, societies “requires ethical leadership capable of navigating the complexities of legal frameworks, while ensuring fair and just administration of public affairs. Only through the alignment of law, ethics and good governance can we lay the groundwork for our communities to thrive.”
Abdul reminded guests of the gravity of their obligations, stating “It is not just the responsibility of our politicians but also of all citizens to uphold the values of good government. We can develop a society that lives on justice, equality, and trust, by embracing a culture that values ethics and integrity.
“The diversity of perspectives and the richness of discourse that we can collectively envision a future where the principles of law and ethics become ingrained in the very fabric of our public service institutions,” he posited.
The rector said the public lecture was inaugurated to celebrate all principal officers who showed unwavering dedication and commitment during their tenure as the college’s modality of showing appreciation, which will be a policy of Recognition of Distinguished Service in the college forthwith.
Chairman of the governing council of YABATECH, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, commended the efforts of the celebrants in reforming the Registry Unit of the college and setting a new pace in public service.
He described Dr. Momodu as a man of many virtues, especially integrity, transparency and accountability. Emphasizing that in the celebrant’s five years of occupying the position of the registrar, he proved himself as an exemplary civil servant.
Prince Fagbemi urged staff of the registry to take up from Dr. Momodu and perform whatever function they are assigned with unwavering determination and integrity.
The council chairman was represented by Mr. Peter Nwabueze Okolie, a member of the governing council and a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Food Technology in the School of Technology.
The guest speaker, the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, who was represented by the Director, System Study Review and ICT, Barrister Abbia Udofia of the agency spoke on ‘Law and Ethics: Evolving Law Culture in Public Service for Good Governance as the focus of the lecture.
Owasanoye said that law and ethics are crucial elements to evolving new culture in institutions like public service and good governance will not emerge with conscious and consistent ethical structures and efforts by the people and society.
“Everyone must constantly engage the question on the essence and application of ethics and values,” he cautioned.
He equally encouraged public officials and citizens to stand up for the law, good ethics and value for good governance.
The guest speaker extensively spoke on law, ethics and education, public service and good governance enhancing ethical values for good governance.
He further outlined the roles the ICPC plays in the culture of good governance and encouraged the attendees to leave a track record of Integrity.
The ICPC chairman, however, recognised the unrelenting efforts of Dr. Momodu at improving the services of YABATECH Registry Unit. He enjoined the college not to permit a vacuum to emerge by the completion of the statutory five-year tenure as the registrar of the college.
In his response, Dr. Momodu disclosed that his administration was able to digitalized the way registry operates especially as regards sending memo and circulation of appraisal forms among members of staff and collection of transcripts by former students, who can now apply online and delivered such within a very short period of time.
Though, he encountered, a lot of challenges but they were for the prosperity of today, he said.
He claimed that all functions that were previously performed manually have been digitalized, resulting in increased efficiency in service delivery.
“We have been able to introduce the new evaluation report; the one we have been using has been in existence for over 30 years, and introducing a new one is a landmark achievement for any registrar”, Momodu established.
He said further that, “admissions are more or less done online, student registration is now done online, so these are some of the things we were able to bring in within the five years, and we also organized in-house retreat for the governing council members of the college.
The event came to a climax with the unveiling of 99-pages Compendium titled: “The Man, The Rule and The Pen,” a compilation of works and presentations of the celebrants Dr. Olukayode Momodu.
Among dignitaries present were immediate former rectors of YABATECH, Obafemi Omokungbe, Pa G.M. Okufi, former Deputy Rectors, Mrs. Moji Bello, Dr. Titilayo Ukabam, Registrars emeritus, Mrs. Fehintola Taiwo and Ms Biekoroma Charity amongst others.