By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, Nov. 5 GNA- Professor Justice Nyigmah Bawole, the immediate Past Dean of the University of Ghana Business School has urged university administrators to move beyond clinical duty to become “architects of student experiences.”
He underscored the critical link between diligent administrative practices and positive student outcomes, warning that a lack of attention to student can result in missed opportunities for young people.
He was delivering a keynote address at the 2025 University of Ghana Registrar’s Management Seminar at the Cedi Conference Centre, on “Transformational Leadership: Inspiring Vision and Driving Change in Higher Education.”
The event, a flagship platform for Senior Administrative and Professional staff to discuss emerging trends, highlighted the urgent need for a more humane and efficient university system.
He shared a story of a former student he assisted whose missing results were retrieved, allowing the student to obtain his transcript, gain international admission, and secure his “dream job”.
He highlighted the need for institutional empathy towards students facing personal crises.
He also recounted an instance of intervening with a young female student whose father had collapsed and died in her arms, and who was later found to be pregnant.
“That’s one of our jobs as administrators, to look out for her, to be able to track her, to be able to mentor, to say a few words and to encourage her,” he said.
The Professor stressed that administration must shift from rigid control to a system of support and mentorship for students.
To achieve this, the Professor called for a collective effort across the university, noting that the ability of university leaders to reach out to students was directly linked to improved students experience.
Prof. Bawole affirmed that inspiring teaching and administrative clarity were about assuring access to a great future for young people, ensuring that systems did not stifle innovation, and building confidence in the institution.
He celebrated the University of Ghana’s commitment to transforming individuals, pointing out that students who enter with very bad grade soften end up with brilliant academic performances due to the possibilities offered.
GNA
5 Nov. 2025
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong