UNIVERSITY: Why integrate planning with implementation.
My name is Omosun Sylvester; I am a writer, poet and a Technical Planning Officer of Bells University of Technology Ota. Apart from my official duties, I research and teach creative writing in my own spare time to students and staff, mostly centered on Conflict Resolution at the National Level, and I am the Founder and President of “tribalpoetry” (words can be found at http:/omosun.wordpress.com) The International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace.
An ancient description of University is “School of Universal Learning.” This description implies the assemblage of strangers from all parts in one spot; it is a place for the communication and circulation of thought, by means of personal intercourse, through a wide extent of country.
How can a poet fit into the technical dept of a technological establishment? How can poetry and literature creativity advance a University of Technology, and help to create peace culture world wide? These are some of the answers I hope to give in this article
On October 9th 2005, at the University community, I introduced myself as the Administrative officer 11, stated in my employment letter, to the Vice-Chancellor General office, my designations were; Publicity and information, and hence commenced my first employment status as a staff in one of the most interesting University owned by one of Africa greatest illustrious son.
A year later, on October 9th 2006, I arrived at the campus at about 8.30 a.m., much as I had done for the past one year. I entered the Administrative building, but the difference was that I walked to the office of the Director of Physical planning and works introduced myself as the new Planning Officer and sat down in one swivel chair. Thus begin my first moment in a new office, as the Planning Officer, of Bells university of Technology .
Yet the questions, why was I reassigned within an academic year? Why is it that I will now plan strategically the affairs put into my hands in accordance with the policies of the University and the board but I will not ‘administrate.’ In the precise sense of the word- Work it, why?
This write-up in a way seeks to find and share the answers, through my experience as a Planning Officer, staff of the Nations’ first private University of Technology, to justify the need by Professor Julius Okojie; the erstwhile Vice- Chancellor and now the Executive Secretary of The National University Commission, for the formation of a creatively conceived Planning Unit within the University System, as a new strategic framework of intervention for addressing the need to integrate planning with implementation and also to affirm that...
“Reassignments are steps toward a more effective system of managing resources and planning change.’
Casteen
The reason I was admitted into the administrative officer cadre at first employment, is to ingrain in me the experience to perform the function in which the university education I have acquired has prepared me, my experience a s creative writer was tested in lieu with the administrative protocol
For a university to be truly great and perform the function noted in its definition, its community should be inspired by a larger vision, whose experience should prepare staff and students to go beyond personal interest for the advancement of the common good in the country in which the establishment emanated, that is part of my growth
One of the best strategies used by National University Commission(NUC)today in achieving the motto defining University, is researching into the ‘intellectual market”, it help in the initiative geared to the future a blueprints in strategic planning, such as luring top talent/companies/universities etc to participate in the University Community
I believe that I am a staff in such a University known as school of universal learning, because a vision for Bells University is seen in its involvement in strategy that supports its mission of learning both financially and philosophically
Today if we examine the growth rate of the most successful institution in the world, we will see that there is always the formulation of a Creatively Conceived Strategic Planning Unit that helped them; units that can identify the constraints limiting the ability of the Universities staff and student and seek ways for remediation
My work for instance, like those of the Officers in the Planning Units in other Universities has huge implications for the welfare of people from all walks of life, here in this community and elsewhere. He is able to fill his days with challenging, important, and fulfilling work that really makes a difference to those around him. So it is important that the formulation of a creatively conceived Planning Unit within the University System is a must, as a new strategic framework of intervention for addressing the need to integrate planning with implementation.
In Nigeria the problems of lack of resources in planning are well documented and have been supported by increasing workloads and the diversion of staff and funding into work with little added value, this lead to a point where Planning proposal becomes synonymous with uncertainty and re-evaluation of process detracts from the final product
The initiative by the NUC to successfully address the problems of deteriorating quality in Nigerian Universities and critical developmental need can not be overemphasized,
Why was I reassigned as a planning officer?
If the Planning Officer embraces the creative means of communicating technology or any idea inherent in his establishment while working in any planning unit, the African public will have a better understanding of the importance of science and technology and learn to make many of the important decisions in their lives that the planning officer has put in place. Being a creative writer has given me the added advantage with such skills
Many of the documents now required to support planning applications are similarly of extreme length and yet have strong impact on the decision making process, when handled by a creative writer who also has a master degree in Urban Planning, the Planning documents should be proportionate to their purpose and the value they added, these can act as a pathway to effective community engagement
So the ability to communicate scientific concepts to the public is an important asset to any science based institution, because the people counts on the planner’ creativity to tell them in their own language that which they sought
The Computer Aided Design (CAD) skill of the planning officer to commune the usefulness of science and technology, together with his literary creativity opens the door and plays a critical role in instilling in young people a curiosity and an interest in science
It is not all those who need technology in the modern Nigerian society that are literate to completely understand its usage and importance, so it becomes critical in planning proposal that important health or any scientific related concepts are described in terms that the lay public can understand because it inform the public about critical issues to aid public debate on areas of science involving ethics and policy questions,
The Duty of the Planning officer is very important in a technological establishment because in this age of new technologies and innovations, it is becoming all the time more essential to identify these technological inputs and draw on the endless promise they offer the citizens for sustainable socio-economic development.
Apart from the NUC inputs, I still believe that action is required from several fonts is not to be overemphasized, the creativity inherent to the Planning Officer is the best linkages in these fonts because his creative inputs helps with the responsiveness toward the importance of science and technology in African development, it will evolved into the broader perception of premeditated organization for the National planning if conscious effort is given
“I describe the core of the Planning Units in a university to consist of people whose main role is to create new ideas, They could either be qualified in science and technology, education, arts, or any discipline, they include people who engage in complex problem solving with a great deal of independent judgment, These are the people who share a common creative ethos, people who value creativity in their place of work”
To be continued…
Thank you
Omosun Sylvester
Planning officer
Bells University of technology
08052130879
Ota
