Professor Olugbenga Oyeyemi of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, has identified adaptability as a key element to maintaining competitive advantage in a highly volatile economy like Nigeria.
He said the depth and values of the innovations that one may acquire in one’s pursuit notwithstanding, it is important to be able to adapt them creatively for the desirable result.
Oyeyemi stated this during the conferment of a honorary doctorate degree on Mrs Bukola Bello, Chief Executive Officer of Isbio Integrated Services Limited and Fatbuks Enterprises, at Kaff Hall, Human Nutrition Department, UI, on Saturday.
Professor Oyeyemi, who presented a paper, Innovation and Adaptation: The Role of Strategic Planning in Driving Organisational Change, said: “People must be trained to adopt innovations.
“What you produced must be acceptable to the society in which you live. For some people, it takes time to adjust to changes. You need to position yourself so that you adjust correctly.
“A manager or an entrepreneur must be able to solve problems being confronted in his line of business effectively. You should be able to project the culture of your company and check what you have added and whether they are relevant or not.
“It is important, for instance, to know that, no matter how small a customer is, we should honour him.
“You must know the culture of the people in an area where you are operating. You must grow opportunities and allow people to grow under you. You must be able to understand customers’ demands.”
Going further, he said: “Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success. When you promote the wrong people, you begin to lose the best people.”
The various awards that were conferred on inductees at the event included excellent service, humanitarian, leadership, fellowship, as well as honorary doctorate degrees.
Earlier in his opening speech, the convener of the programme and CEO, Uniplan Integrated Services, Dr Kunle Awotiku, congratulated the professional students.
Speaking at the sideline of the event, Mrs Bukola Bello expressed joy for being admitted into fellowship as a member of Institute of Arts Management and Professionals.
She said: “I am happy that the little that I contributed to the society was noticed. This award would encourage me to do more in giving back to the society. Whatever people can do to help the society, they should not hold back.”
Among those present at the event were the Registrar and African Representative of Prowess University, Professor Eze Nwuauba; Royal Father of the Day, Oba Adetokunbo Okikiola; Professor Chidi Esibe and Mr Tolu Aderemi.
