The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), says the institution’s decision to fully automate its administrative processes has significantly enhanced efficiency, transparency, and service delivery across the university system.
Speaking in an interview with the UNILORIN Bulletin, Professor Egbewole explained that the initiative forms part of a broader reform agenda aimed at modernising university operations and reducing dependence on manual procedures.
According to him, the transition to digital administration has streamlined activities across academic and non-academic units, with tangible benefits for students, staff, and other stakeholders.
“From the beginning, automation was one of our major priorities. We wanted to drastically minimize paper-based processes, and we have made impressive progress in that regard,” he stated.
Core University Operations Now Digitised
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that critical university functions — including student registration, academic records management, staff leave processing, and administrative approvals — are now handled electronically.
He added that the system provides real-time access to institutional data, enabling prompt decision-making and remote administrative oversight.
“Whether I am within or outside the country, I can log in, monitor activities, approve requests, and respond to official correspondence without delays,” he said.
Professor Egbewole, who also serves as Vice-President (West Africa) of the Association of African Universities and Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities, noted that deans and directors fully transitioned to paperless operations from August 2025.
He further revealed that automation has strengthened financial administration within the university, complementing existing national payment platforms such as Remita and the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
No Extra Financial Burden, But Requires Adaptation
The Vice-Chancellor clarified that the project did not impose additional financial pressure on the institution, explaining that it operates under a revenue-sharing arrangement with technology partners, tied to student payments rather than upfront capital investment.
He acknowledged that the transition required significant staff adjustment and continuous capacity-building.
“The major challenges relate to adaptation and technical capacity, which is why we are prioritising ongoing training for our staff,” he noted.
Professor Egbewole also disclosed that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, recently commended the university’s level of digital transformation and suggested that UNILORIN’s automation model could serve as a reference for other Nigerian universities.
With ongoing improvements, the University of Ilorin is positioning itself as one of the leading technologically driven higher institutions in Nigeria, committed to efficient service delivery and modern academic administration.
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