The Registrar of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mrs. V. Abosede Wickliffe, convened the maiden edition of Registry Table Talks on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Senate Chamber, 2nd Floor, Senate House, UNILAG. The forum was conceived as a platform for strategic reflection, capacity building, and the promotion of administrative excellence, professionalism, and institutional effectiveness.
Are You a Worker or a Staff?
The inaugural session featured a thought-provoking presentation on Are You a Worker or a Staff? by former Registrar and Secretary to Council, and current Director of the Office of Advancement, Dr. Taiwo Ipaye, FNIM.
Referencing definitions from Meta and Merriam-Webster, the renowned administrator par excellence explored the distinctions between the two concepts. According to her, staff members play a central role in the internal operations and strategic functioning of institutions.
She explained that staff generally refers to employees engaged in management or administrative functions such as human resources, finance, or marketing while workers typically denote individuals involved in manual labour or production roles including cleaners, maintenance personnel, and factory staff.
Dr. Ipaye outlined key attributes of effective staff members, highlighting reliability, integrity, accountability, teamwork, and a strong work ethic as essential qualities. These traits, she noted, contribute to a culture of productivity and adaptability within dynamic work environments.
She further emphasized the critical role of administrators in delivering efficient services to stakeholders and positioning the Registry as a hub of institutional effectiveness.
With a metaphorical question: “Are you a duck or an eagle?”, Dr. Ipaye concluded her presentation by encouraging participants to embody the visionary, innovative qualities of eagles rather than the noisy, complaint-driven tendencies often associated with ducks. She also urged registry staff to embrace artificial intelligence and leverage data-driven tools to enhance service delivery.
The interactive session featured contributions from participants who highlighted the importance of mentoring, adherence to institutional policies, proper dress codes, open-door leadership, and fostering a positive workplace culture.
UNILAG Registry’s Code of Conduct
In her closing remarks, the Registrar reinforced these principles by re-introducing the Registry’s guiding WAPIL Code of Conduct:
W – Work Ethics & Responsibility
A – Attitude & Conduct
P – Professional Competence
I – Innovation & Excellence
L – Leadership & Growth
Mrs. Wickliffe also announced that the second edition of UNILAG Registry Week will take place from November 3–5, 2026. She encouraged staff to mark their calendars for another opportunity to strengthen the Registry’s impact within the University.
Author: Ndidi J. Odinikaeze
Editor: Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem
Photographer: Islamiat Akanni
