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The rapidly changing landscape for the practice of Management, occasioned by technological advances and generational shift in behaviour, and ways to respond these issues formed the crux of discussions as the International Conference of the Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS), University of Lagos (UNILAG) began at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall of the institution on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
Delivering the keynote address titled, Learning, Unlearning, and Relearning while Addressing the Anathema of the Precarity of Management in a Disruptive Age, an alumnus of the Faculty, Professor Hakeem Ajonbadi shed light on the fast-evolving nature of Management, especially in the age of Artificial Intelligence, with his
The Qatar-based Management expert sensitised the conference participants to the reality of Artificial Intelligence and its many disruptive consequences.
“AI is real!”, he declared. “Management scholars in particular and the Academia in general must admit that this is the time to change; it is the time for Business Not as Usual”.
Using charts and other graphic aids, the Keynote Speaker captured the audience’s attention with his masterly illustration of how the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) era has dawned; and how embracing its demands is the most pragmatic thing for every profession to do, including Management.
He enumerated and explained the opportunities and challenges that come with the inevitable transition and charged universities in Nigeria to take the lead in positioning the country for taking maximum advantage.
A Faculty Proud of its Heritage
The Dean of Management Sciences, Professor A. A. Sulaimon, earlier in his opening remarks, had reeled out the achievements of the Faculty. He highlighted the various feats achieved by the staff and students of the faculty, which have brought glory to the university; and declared their resolve to continue to raise the success bar.
On the international conference, the Dean disclosed that it made a come-back after a four-year hiatus – owing to several macro-economic and global developments. He also revealed that attendance at the conference was free of charge to all participants and presenters, because willing partners in the industry chipped in with their support.
He revealed that some of the presentations that will be made at the conference will be published in the faculty’s Journal of Management.
“First of its Kind in Sub-Saharan Africa”
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa, represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS at the event.
She congratulated the Faculty of Management Sciences on their successful hosting of the conference and encouraged them to look for more creative ways to sustain it as an annual event.
“We congratulate you on what is an effort to revive the culture of academia globally. Outside of these conferences, we really cannot exist as academics, because this is the place where we share our research findings with peers who have the competence to engage with our scholarship and give helpful feedback.
Indeed, the Faculty of Management Sciences is the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was founded in 1962; and at that time, no other country in this part of Africa had a university nor a faculty of that description. Therefore, we urge the faculty to keep that sense of history and not let anything displace it from that leadership position.”
She thereafter declared the conference open.
A hybrid event, the three-day international conference received 100 abstracts from 120 authors in Nigeria. Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The Opening Ceremony had over 200 participants in online attendance.
REPORT: Isaiah Kumuyi
PHOTOGRAPH: Ayo Oloyede
Source: UNILAG
