Professor Monday Osemeke,
is a man of many academic accomplishments and scholarly pursuits, with
a
formidable array of academic qualifications that include an Advanced Diploma in
Banking and Finance, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management, Master’s in
Business Administration, B.Sc. in Accountancy, and a Ph.D. in Management. In
this interview with Emeke Precious
Nwaoboli and Tade Oshaloto, the highly revered luminary with amassed wealth
of experience spanning over 18 years of practical banking familiarity that has
undoubtedly shaped his illustrious career trajectory speaks on his forth coming
inaugural lecture scheduled for Thursday, June 15, 2023. Excerpts:
Tell us about your
personal and professional background
Professor Monday Osemeke, is a native of Ottah – Igbanke, Orhionmwon
Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. I was born on the 5th of February,
1969 at Igbanke. I attended the University of Benin between 1992-1995 for my
Advanced Diploma in Banking and Finance (ADBF) and between 1997-1998, I
obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) from the then
Edo State University, now Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, where I again bagged
a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 2003. My passion to join the
knowledge industry pushed me back to obtain B.Sc. degree in Accountancy (2nd
class honours), Imo State University, 2005 and Ph.D. in Management, Madonna
University, Okija, Anambra State in 2009. I then went back to the classroom not
as a lecturer this time but a student between 2013 and 2016 to earn for myself,
an M.Sc. Accounting degree at Igbinedion University. I am a seasoned
professional in banking and business management with over 18years of practical
banking experience in African Continental Bank International and as a former
Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria in Edo State,
Nigeria. More so, I am a lecturer at the prestigious Glorious Vision University
(GVU), Ogwa, Edo State.
What sparked your
interest in the field of management?
My interest in the field of
management was sparked during my tenure as the Chairman of the Chartered
Institute of Bankers of Nigeria in Edo State, Nigeria, following my
certification as a Chartered Banker and my extensive practical banking
experience. Through this experience, I became aware of the factors, such as
inadequate management, that had led to the failure of numerous banks, including
African Continental Bank International Plc, and small and medium-sized
enterprises in Nigeria. This drove me to study the concept of management
in-depth, as the lack of effective management had previously led to my
unemployment in the financial sector during the early part of the 21st century.
Today, I am glad to say that Almighty God has been with me.
Your inaugural lecture
is titled “Strategic Human Resource Management Practices and Information
Technology: Digitalisation as a Catalyst for Avoiding Bumps and Potholes
in the Twenty First Century”. Can you give us a brief on what you will be
discussing in the lecture?
My inaugural lecture is scheduled to
hold on June 15, 2023 at Glorious Vision University, Ogwa. The objectives of my
lecture are to explore the critical roles of information technology adumbrated
in digitalisation, as a facilitator and driver of strategic HRM practices, particularly
in the new wave of the digital era in the 21st century. The lecture
also presents a systematic literature on digitalisation in HRM and how it
support organisations to mature into dynamic, high-performance firms. The
discussions that follow present an overview of information technology,
innovation and technology, digital transformation, Robotics overview,
Artificial Intelligence (AI), and their respective impacts on HRM and on
organisations growth vis-à-vis the downsides of digital technology.
What motivated your
selection of this topic for your inaugural lecture, and what significance do
you believe it holds for the field of management?
The
reasons for choosing the topic for my inaugural lecture emanated from the fact
that the entrepreneurs that mastered business activities have admitted the
influence of information technology (IT) apparatuses for the accomplishment of
corporate goals. Also, it is no longer new to say that COVID-19 pandemic
brought in a “new normal” in the global economy, with most companies
adopting rapid digital transformation. Organisations are up-skilling their
workers as part of modern and hybrid workplaces to effectively handle future
disruptions. Hence, the prospects of the HR function depend on its digital
transformation.
As a management
expert, what do you think are some of the biggest challenges confronting
tertiary institution managers in Nigeria?
The challenges confronting the
tertiary institution managers in Nigeria can be analysed under two broad
categories. One deals with the general challenges facing the Nigerian
University system, which include inadequate funding; inadequate/deteriorated
infrastructural facilities, shortage of academic staff, brain-drain and the
“japa” Syndrome, strike actions by academic and non-academic
staff of public universities, poor research, weak administrators, insecurity,
erosion of university autonomy, volatile and militant student unionism in
public universities, secret cult activities, poor university-private sector
partnership, sexual harassment, examination malpractices and difficulty
attracting and retaining the best minds in most private universities.
The second aspect
deals with the specific challenges facing managers in tertiary institutions,
namely, lack of induction/orientation for new managerial staff, poor mentoring
culture, little or no capacity development, and lack of social skills, e.t.c.
How do you think the
aforementioned problems can be addressed?
To address the challenges pebbledashing
tertiary institution managers in Nigeria, I recommend adequate funding of
tertiary education, employment of more academic staff, provision of adequate
infrastructural facilities, motivation of academic staff, the appointment of
qualified administrators, and fighting all forms of vice, among others
How do you see the
field of management evolving in the future?
In the future, the field of management is likely to continue
evolving towards decentralisation of power, increased communication within
organisations, and further adoption of information technology. The trend
towards flat hierarchies, shared competences, and agility is expected to
continue, with a greater emphasis on leveraging technology to improve
efficiency, productivity, and overall performance. Managers will need to be
adaptable and open to new ideas and tools, in order to stay ahead of the curve
in an increasingly competitive and dynamic business environment.
What advice would you
give to students who are interested in pursuing a career in management?
I would advise and encourage
intending students to pursue a career in management based on the fact that
management is a very exciting and rewarding career. A career in management
offers status, interesting work, and the satisfaction of working closely with
other people. In addition, studying management is important to maximizing
efficiency, productivity, employee satisfaction, and personal success.
What calibre of people
will be coming for your inaugural lecture?
The calibre of people invited for my
inaugural lecture includes people from all works of life: Captains of
industries, HR professionals, Tech giants, academics (Vice-Chancellors and
their instructions, professors, researchers, dons, scholars, instructors,
lecturers, etc.). Others are professional bodies/associations such as the
Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Lagos and Edo state Branch,
the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and the Academy of Management Nigeria
among others.
How do you see your
inaugural lecture impacting Nigerian society or contributing to broader
conversations beyond academia?
The topic of my inaugural lecture is
apt, contemporary and germane. I have no qualms that it will impart appropriate
knowledge to Nigerian society and contribute to broader conversations beyond
academia. It is envisioned that captains of industries, HRM professionals,
management experts, administrators in both public and private sector
organisations will adopt strategic HRM via digitalisation of various operations
in their respective establishments. Hence, the text/lecture material is highly
recommended for the various segments of society.
