Chinedu Okafor & Toye Fisher
The Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria (CILGPAN) in collaboration with the Public Administration Department of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has inducted 14 administrators as full members and conferred Fellowship on eight distinguished professionals.
The investiture, held on Tuesday, February at the Oye campus of FUOYE, marked a significant step towards professionalizing public administration in the university.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Olubunmi Shittu, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, lauded the newly inducted administrators for seizing the opportunity to become chartered members of the institute. He described the event as a milestone for the university and envisioned a future where registrars and senior administrators of FUOYE would be chartered members of CILGPAN.
“Public administration cuts across all facets of life, and no matter the area of human endeavor, an administrator is essential for coordinating activities that ensure progress,” he stated.
Prof. Shittu further noted that the event coincided with the Vice-Chancellor’s fifth anniversary in office, describing Prof. Fasina as an “administrator per excellence,” given the university’s infrastructural and academic growth under his leadership. “My VC sent his warm greetings to this noble association and deeply appreciates the honor of being recognized as a Fellow of the institute,” he affirmed.
The Registrar of CILGPAN, Dr. Uche Okereke, congratulated the inductees, noting that they had been found worthy of the honor. He urged them to use their expertise to promote local government administration and contribute to national development.
“We want to start a formal relationship with this university. FUOYE has men and women of timber and caliber who can advance the institute’s programs for the benefit of students,” he said.
He emphasized the growing importance of professional certification in today’s job market. “Academic qualifications alone are no longer sufficient. Professional certification has become necessary to secure jobs in today’s contemporary world. As the highest and only body established by an act of parliament in Nigeria for Local Government studies and Public Administration, we have a critical role to play in upholding the highest standards of the profession,” he added.
Speaking further, Dr. Okereke referenced former President Muhammadu Buhari’s endorsement of the institute’s mission, saying, “One of the messages President Buhari gave when signing our law was that we should go out to professionalize Local Government and Public Administration. This induction of FUOYE’s principal officers is a step in that direction.”
The Head of the Department of Public Administration, Dr. Sunday Aniobi, described the investiture as a significant milestone for the department. He stated that the department had long aimed to bridge the gap between professional public administrators and civil servants, as the department serves as a repository of civil service rules and regulations.
“We intend to provide a platform for all administrators, ensuring that both trained public administrators and those in practice are professionalized,” he noted.
On the benefits of the fellowship, Dr. Aniobi highlighted that it would enhance professional growth and capacity building among administrators. “This recognition assures administrators that their efforts in making public administration seamless are valued. Those decorated today will leave with their shoulders high, motivated to do more. They are expected to play key roles in future activities of the institute,” he remarked.
Regarding the impact on FUOYE’s administrative efficiency, he expressed optimism that the inductees would leverage the institute’s resources to enhance academic excellence and administrative proficiency. “It is a short-, medium-, and long-term goal of the department to ensure that members receive continuous training and remain above board in their duties. This synergy will help FUOYE achieve its institutional dreams in the shortest possible time,” he added.
CILGPAN was established by the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration Act of 2017 and signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018. The institute aims to promote excellence in local government studies and public administration in Nigeria through capacity building, standard-setting, and professional regulation.
By the end of the event, a total of 14 administrators were inducted as full members of the institute, while eight distinguished professionals were conferred as Fellows.