Abstract:

Professionalism in the administration of the university system by staff is crucial for combating inefficiency, minimising political influence, and improving the quality of academic services in the university. This paper examined professionalism and its impact on effective administrative management in Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were obtained through a closed-ended questionnaire, while secondary data sources were harnessed to complement the questionnaire. The Taro Yamane (1967) formula was employed to determine a sample size of 400 respondents among the non-teaching staff and academic staff in administrative capacity in the university. The study utilized the system theory by Easton (1965), as its theoretical framework of analysis. The study revealed that professionalism ensures that rules and standards are adhered to, which builds the organisational image and trust of its clients and further helps it to remain competitive in the academic world. The research further indicated that the effectiveness of administrative roles in Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University has been hampered by underfunding, necessitating the unequal distribution of resources and poor policy implementation. The paper recommends, among other things, that professional development and ethics training programmes be made mandatory to all staff in order to reinforce institutional values, ensure compliance with procedures, and build a strong culture of professionalism in the university administration for effectiveness in academic community service delivery.