Mrs Shade Omole is the Deputy Registrar/Secretary, Institute of Agricultural Research And Training (IAR&T), Ibadan. She speaks with TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE on  her  job and marriage. Excerpts.

WHAT are the responsibilities attached to your office?
I deal with issues of appointments, promotion and retirement. Likewise, I attend to issues at the management level. These don't pose many challenges because everybody has his schedule of duties. We have  departments called programmes and heads of programmes are directly in charge of the various staff and supervise them. When they have personal issues, they relate with the administrative  part of the university. Members of staff are guided by the rules and regulations given to the university. And so we deal with staffers in accordance with the laid-down regulations. And when it comes to matter of discipline, there are laid down regulations. We do apply the rules without favouritism and fear because the rules are there.

What have you been doing in the area of staff training?
The human resource is in charge of  this. In order that  every member of staff comes up with optimal performance on his job, we  put in place trainings. We have researchers who have attained the doctoral level. These ensure they go for further trainings and conferences to broaden their knowledge and invariably boost their research work. They also have to write and publish papers and these are quite necessary being in a university. Non academic staffers are not left out. They have trainings arranged for them in and out of the institute as far as fund permits.

Would you say it’s  been easy working with men?
I have worked with men. We have mutual respect for each other. I would like to believe  that I have done my work, not looking at myself as a woman but putting in my best and ensuring the work is properly done. When a woman carries out her official assignment properly, there would be less room for friction. A woman shouldn’t see herself as someone to do less.  But rather, when you occupy an office, you work to the best of your ability, giving no room for complaints. You act responsibly and be firm. By these, the overall objectives of the organisation are achieved. One’s human relation should be such that people can relate with you freely.

Women bosses are believed to be very strict and tough. What's your take on this?
I will say a woman wants to ensure she’s not taken for granted. It’s necessary to be firm, but I won’t support the idea of a woman being unapproachable. Staffers should be able to relate with her through proper channel and when necessary directly.

What are the challenges of your job?
I find out that sometimes when people don’t know what to do, they do things wrongly. I don’t think or see these as challenges, but what I’m here to do. The reason you are there is to put things right, although sometimes if you have a higher expectation and what you get is below it could be a bit  unsettling.

With the demands of your job, how have you been able  to carry out your duties as wife and mother?
I became secretary to the institute in 1999. Our children were quite grown up. I didn’t have little children on my hands. I have been able to, most especially because my husband  has been  very supportive and understanding. I also ensure I have a responsible helper at home who carries out the house chores.

Your spouse is one-time vice chancellor of  Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Did this have any effect on your home?
The children were younger then and though I was also working, I was able to create  time to be with  them when he attended to   his  official duties and so we were able to cope in such regard.

Did it have any impact on you as an individual?
I can say  really I was quite impacted. I saw  his  dedication and commitment to his job. He displayed that whatever assignment, it’s important to show a lot of dedication. He showed a lot of commitment to the progress of the university, putting in every energy and the resources he had. He gave every thing that he needed to ensure he discharged the duties of the office creditably. I knew that was his nature. This  also helped me  in my job.

What does he do now that he’s retired?
He’s now a consultant to many organisations and developmental groups. He’s involved in anything that has to do with developing the society.

Why did you choose to marry him?
He’s a  man of his words and I recognised he was not out just to have fun.I found that quite attracting. He’s caring and quite loving.

Mothers always express fear and anxiety over many issues when their children are growing up. What were your fears?
Thank God for one’s Christian upbringing and the fact that one has remained in the faith. Fears that were  exercised were those everybody exercises on daily basis, but I committed everything into the hands of the Lord,  trusting in Him. About taking care of the children, one did the necessary things, but we were  not there with them at play, in school, on their jobs or when travelling. Really, it has been God keeping all of us.

Some parents indulge in match making their children. What’s your take on this?
I don’t think it’s the thing to do. It’s better to give the children advice and guide them. But the decision has to be theirs because it’s important that the children marry people who they can relate with. Couples should be best of friends. And this has nothing to do with parents matching or not if they see each other as compatible and can live together.

Marriage is between adults, although in our culture it’s also between the families. But first and foremost between adults. Both husband and wife must recognise it’s a life-long commitment.

What do you look forward to at weekends?
It’s a time we can be together, go out to functions or be with friends and families and catching up as it were on those things you couldn’t do during the week.

How do you relax?
I love reading anything and everything.  I also like sight-seeing.

What do you do to keep fit?
I take walks and try to eat sensibly. But generally, I think more than anything God gives good health.

If you have the opportunity of seeing God for a minute, what would you tell him?
I will tell Him, Oluwadara.