The Covenant University Faculty and Staff Executive Advance for the 2020/2021 Academic Session got underway on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, with the Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Regents of the University, Dr David O. Oyedepo, calling for a rededication of faculty and staff to the ideals and goals of the institution.
The Chancellor, who declared the event open, reaffirmed that Covenant University's vision to become one of the top 10 Universities in the world was a reality. According to the Chancellor, Vision 10:2022 was a sworn verdict bound to see the light of day as members of the University kept their faith alive in the Unlimited God, the God of unlimited possibilities. The God that could not lie, and the One that sat upon the circle of the earth, doing what pleased Him, he added.
While making his presentation titled 'Vision 10:2022: Key to Activating and Actualizing a Prophetic Agenda', the Chancellor gave nuggets on the essence and the potency of prophecies. He stated that to see prophecies fulfilled, people must inject their faith into it, take heed to their part of the deal, make required moves, engage in spiritual warfare, and expect to see it fulfilled.
While appreciating God Almighty for the Commission's unprecedented milestones that birthed Covenant University, the Chancellor stated that the University had grown from a humble beginning to a world-renowned institution.
He said that the hand of God was evident on the University. "It is His, and that is why His acts in the University have always been marvellous," said the Chancellor.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo, in his presentation titled 'ReCITe in Pursuit of Vision 10:2022 – Driving Impactful Publications and Citations', highlighted the advent of Vision 10:2022, the strategic importance of the Times Higher Education (THE) World Ranking of Universities, and the ReCITe Agenda initiated to drive the vision. He also explained the methodology and how Covenant University had fared since 2018 when entering into the World Ranking of Universities. And after identifying the gaps and proffering solutions, the Vice-Chancellor assured that Covenant would realize the vision to the glory of God.
The Vice-Chancellor recommended that more recognition be given to Q1 and Q2 journals publications instead of publication quantity.
He stated that the research account issue would be revisited and designed as a reward system; there would be renewed and invigorated support for publications and conferences, and the hosting of Scopus indexed conferences by the University would continue. He promised that research clusters should be encouraged to seek external grants and a Grant Management Office to assist researchers with grant application processing and management would be established.
In a presentation titled 'Prescriptions on Best Administrative and Ethical Practices for Professional Excellence in Covenant University', the Registrar, Dr Oluwasegun Omidiora, enlightened the audience with accounts of how in the 1980s, the university system in Nigeria began to fail due to half-hearted policies, ignoble hidden agenda, and national apathy towards appropriate funding for education generally.
He said that lack of adequate funding eventually degenerated into constant closure of schools as a result of industrial actions and among other things, immorality crept into the campuses.
According to him these and a host of other malaise pervaded the Nigerian education landscape until the advent of private universities and particularly the birth of Covenant University. Covenant University, he said, came to redefine university education by its departure philosophy, vision-driven approach, and commitment to purpose. The Registrar added that these factors defined the ethics that governed the administrative system that provided the Covenant educational system platform to function adequately.
According to the Registrar, an administrator was therefore occupied by the need to get things done efficiently to accomplish set objectives. He said the Administrator was required to manage the University resources both human and non-human efficiently, to achieve desired goals.
He submitted that the Administrator was expected to direct the University's affairs to achieve the primary goals quickly and efficiently. He added that maximum and timely output was the watchword of a consummate administrator.
Dr Omidiora advised that the Administrator represent the University appropriately, not pass the buck, resolve the issue, give a listening ear, and remember in-loco parentis.
While speaking on the administrative process in the University, the Registrar assured that efforts were underway to make it seamless, such as eliminating paper, attending to memos within a short time, and putting in place the latest technology as working tools.
The faculty and staff advance of Covenant University was billed to hold from Wednesday, January 6 to Friday, January 8, 2021.