FUTA Marks International Secretaries Day, Highlights Digital Evolution of Profession

Secretarial professionals in Nigerian universities have been recognised for their critical role in sustaining effective administration, coordination, and institutional efficiency during the 2026 International Secretaries Day celebration held at Federal University of Technology Akure.

The event was organised by the university chapter of the Chartered Institute of Professional Secretarial Staff of Nigeria on April 22, 2026.

Delivering the keynote lecture, former Registrar of University of Benin, Ademola Bobola, described secretaries as indispensable professionals in modern institutions, noting that the profession has evolved into a technology-driven force shaping organisational productivity and administrative excellence.

Speaking on the theme, “Celebrating the Evolution of Secretarial Profession: A Dynamic, Tech-Driven Force Shaping Efficiency and Excellence in the Digital Era,” he traced the transformation of secretarial practice from the era of manual typewriters to the current age of digital administration and virtual coordination.

According to him, the profession remains one of the oldest administrative structures responsible for communication management, record coordination, and institutional efficiency.

He identified technology, organisational restructuring, global economic realities, education, governance reforms, and management changes as major factors influencing the transformation of the profession.

Ademola Bobola also highlighted the responsibilities of secretaries within university systems, including office management, meeting coordination, communication handling, logistics planning, confidentiality management, and public relations support.

He urged professionals in the field to embrace continuous training, digital record keeping, versatility, and professional certification to remain relevant in the evolving workplace.

The keynote speaker further identified ethical concerns, limited career advancement opportunities, and declining interest in the profession among younger generations as some of the challenges confronting secretarial practice.

In a separate lecture, Deputy Director of the Computer Resource Centre at Federal University of Technology Akure, Adebowale Ayodeji, encouraged secretarial staff to deepen their engagement with digital tools and cloud-based technologies to improve productivity and information management.

He noted that platforms such as Google Docs and Microsoft OneDrive have become essential for real-time collaboration, remote access, and digital storage solutions.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Adenike Oladiji, the Director of the Central Laboratory, Folasade Olajuyigbe, stated that secretaries remain central to the smooth functioning of organisations due to their role in managing institutional information and administrative processes.

Former Registrar of the university, Modupe Ajayi, also commended secretarial staff for their support and professionalism, urging them to continue building relevant skills and maintaining strong work ethics.

The Registrar of the university, Charles Adeleye, described the event theme as timely, noting that the responsibilities of secretaries have expanded significantly with the rise of virtual activities and digital record management.

Earlier in her welcome address, the President of the university’s chapter of Chartered Institute of Professional Secretarial Staff of Nigeria, Bunmi Ajayi, said modern secretaries now function as strategic partners, information managers, digital coordinators, and problem solvers within organisations.

The event also featured the presentation of awards for selfless service to retiring members of the association, including Zechariah Oyeleke, Olufunke Ogunsesin, and Rachel Taiwo.