EXCERPTS FROM 2023 ITEMS RETREAT

The Information Technology and Media Services (ITeMS), University of Ibadan, organized its annual two-day staff retreat at the NCC Digital Park, University of Ibadan, from December 14 to 15, 2023. The retreat, which gathered over 100 participants, included ITeMS staff and colleagues from various university units such as the Distance Learning Centre, Bursary Unit, Post Graduate College, and Department of Geography.

The retreat was declared open by the Chairman of the ITeMS Board, who emphasized the pivotal role of ITeMS in the university’s technological growth. He highlighted that ITeMS comprises several essential units, including Information Technology Networks and Hardware, Management Information Systems, Software Development, University Media Centre, Training Research and Development, and ITU College of Medicine. He encouraged participants to harness the knowledge and experiences of the retreat facilitators, fostering innovation and collaboration to advance ITeMS.

Mr. Abiodun A. Alao, Director of ITeMS, commenced the first day with an overview of the directorate, its vision, and the challenges it faces. She advocated for a united team-based approach across ITeMS’ units to strengthen service delivery. Alao also traced the history of ITeMS, established in 2012 as a one-stop solution center for information and media technologies within the university.

Renowned speakers shared their insights during the retreat. Emeritus Professor Olufemi Bamiro, a former vice-chancellor, presented the first lecture on "Harnessing ICT Opportunities Towards the Transformation to a World-Class University." He underscored the need for Ibadan to become a service-intensive institution that can contribute to national socio-economic development.

Professor Olalekan Akinola followed with a lecture on "Addressing Challenges and Solutions for Information Technology Networks and Hardware," delving into the intricacies of network infrastructure in modern universities.

On the second day, Professor Francis Egbokhare delivered a philosophical lecture, "Sustaining Passion in the Face of Challenges," where he emphasized wisdom, knowledge, and introspection as vital for personal and professional success. He encouraged participants to remain passionate and pursue excellence in their duties.

Professor Eme Owoaje closed the sessions with a presentation on “Demystifying Grants,” where she provided valuable insights into securing research grants, including writing competitive proposals and identifying funding sources.

The retreat concluded with awards recognizing distinguished staff, named "Ambassadors of the Year 2023." These awards, democratically decided by staff votes, were presented to members across the six ITeMS units.

Post-retreat feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 72.7% of participants rating the event as highly satisfactory. Many attendees appreciated the opportunity to connect with colleagues, share ideas, and discuss future directions for ITeMS. The retreat also sparked discussions on fostering better cross-program collaboration and community-building initiatives, suggesting that the department should hold regular retreats and smaller meetings for continuous development.

With a total of 74 online registrations and 22 offline participants, the event was hailed as one of ITeMS’ largest and most inclusive retreats to date.