The Chartered Institute of Professional Secretarial Staff of Nigeria (CIPSSON), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) Chapter, Ile-Ife, on Thursday, 23rd October 2025, held an in-house seminar themed “Secretarial Professionals: The Office Managers and Pillars of Organizational Success.”
The seminar also featured two sub-themes: The Evolving Roles of Secretaries in the Digital Age and Secretarial Professional: Navigating the Storm of Organizational Abasement
In his welcome address, the President of the OAUTHC Chapter, Mr. Adedayo Oyeniran, emphasized the need for collective commitment among secretarial professionals to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the workplace. He noted that continuous training and retraining are essential to meet the ever-evolving demands of the modern office environment. Mr. Oyeniran expressed appreciation to the OAUTHC management for their support in organizing the seminar and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to improve daily operations and uphold the highest standards of professionalism.
Delivering her goodwill message, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Prof. Josephine Eniola Eziyi, commended the chapter’s leadership for organizing the impactful seminar. She described secretarial staff as essential pillars of every organization and encouraged them to uphold professional etiquette and allow the seminar’s lessons to reflect positively in their service delivery.
Representing the Director of Administration, Dr. Ayodeji Bobade, the Head of General Administration, Mr. Abiodun Oyamakinde, congratulated the secretarial staff on the occasion. He described them as the “engine room” of administrative and managerial operations, commending their diligence, efficiency, and skillfulness. Mr. Oyamakinde also urged participants to pursue continuous self-development, noting that as information and time managers, growth is vital to maintaining excellence.
In his address, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. John Okeniyi, charged secretarial staff to continually improve their skills in alignment with the mission of OAUTHC. He emphasized the importance of excellence, adaptability, and proficiency in computer and communication skills to remain relevant and effective in the evolving workplace.
Delivering one of the keynote lectures, from the Department of Office Technology and Management, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Dr. Olunike Adegbenjo described secretaries as indispensable professionals. She emphasized that composure and cautiousness are vital attributes of competent secretaries. Dr. Adegbenjo identified key modern roles of secretaries as strategic communicators, information and knowledge managers, ethical guardians, and custodians of trust. She further outlined essential competencies for effective performance, including communication and interpersonal skills, ICT and digital literacy, empathy, emotional intelligence, and ethical conduct.
In another presentation, from the African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation, Faculty of Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Dr. Michael Awoleye discussed the “Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Facilitate Work Delivery.” He explained how AI enhances productivity by automating repetitive tasks, improving accuracy, and streamlining communication. Dr. Awoleye also highlighted AI’s growing role in healthcare administration, including patient correspondence, report summarization, and treatment planning.
The seminar concluded with renewed commitment among participants to embrace digital transformation, uphold professional ethics, and strengthen their roles as vital drivers of organizational success.