President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration will continue to promote the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) to improve access to higher education in the country.
Mr Tinubu gave the assurance at the 13th Convocation and
Investiture of the third Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria
(NOUN), Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, on Saturday in Abuja.
“We will continue to do this in order to improve quality,
access and affordability,” he said.
Mr Tinubu was represented at the event by Biodun Saliu, the
Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC)
He said the deployment of ODL approach in tertiary education
was the major link to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
“Government is, therefore, committed through the Federal
Ministry of Education and the NUC to provide the enabling environment to ensure
a good delivery of this mode of education in Nigeria,” he said.
NOUN’s contributions open and distance e-learning
The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Olufemi Peters, a professor,
said the university had maintained its leadership role in promoting ODL across
the African continent.
This, Mr Peters said, necessitated the re-election of the
institution as the 1st Vice-President on the Board of the African Council for
Distance Education (ACDE) during the seventh Triennial Conference and General
Assembly held in Kenya.
“The university continues to contribute significantly to
Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL) initiatives. The ACDE is a continental and
leading organisation of African universities in ODeL and other higher
educational institutions.
“We take pride in offering education that is both flexible
and qualitative, yet affordable and accessible.
“We prioritise equity and equal opportunities in education
at the university level, striving to widen access and promote lifelong
learning.
“Since inception, NOUN has provided scholarships to about 83
inmates in correctional centres, exemplified by a current PhD student in Peace
Studies and Conflict Resolution.
NOUN, from humble beginning
“From a very humble beginning, the university has grown in
leaps and bounds. We have brought smiles to many people who had thought
university education was beyond them. Our student enrolment figures have
increased.
“Our programme offerings have also increased. From about
1,230 students in 2003, the student population has now grown to about 170,000
active students in 2024 and over 100,000 alumni, straddling important sectors
of our economy.
“We have grown from relative obscurity, where many in the
tertiary education sector and employers within the Nigerian labour market tried
to question the quality of our products, to a pre-eminent position as the
undisputed leader in Open and Distance Learning in sub-Saharan Africa,” Mr
Peters said.
2024 convocation
He noted that the 2024 convocation was unique because of the
investiture of the institution’s third Chancellor, the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.
“The convocation is also unique because of the award of
honorary degrees on Dr Innocent Chukwuma, founder, Innoson Motors and Hajiya
Hafsatu Ahmed, the first female Hausa novelist from Northern Nigeria,” he said.
He said the choice of the awardees reflected the core values
at NOUN which centred on entrepreneurial ingenuity and knowledge based content
creativity.
“Indeed, as a mark of the profound admiration of Chukwuma’s
entrepreneurial sagacity, the NOUN under my management, has decided henceforth,
to acquire only Innoson vehicular products as our operational vehicles,” Peters
added.
Chancellor speaks
The Chancellor, the Oba of Benin, who spoke after his
investiture, said he was aware of the responsibility accompanying his position.
“My vision for the National Open University of Nigeria is
one of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity.
“It is my fervent aspiration to leverage my position as a
traditional ruler to enhance the fortunes of this esteemed institution.
“Without any gainsaying, NOUN holds a unique position as a
beacon of hope and opportunity in the realm of Open and Distance e-learning
mode of instructional delivery.
“We will do our best to ensure that this university remains
not only a pioneer in Nigeria but also a shining example across the entirety of
the sub-Saharan Africa.
“As we all know, education knows no boundaries, and I am
committed to an environment where knowledge transcends borders and transforms
lives.
“Together, we will embark on a journey of advancement and
progress, guided by principles of integrity, scholarship and service.
“I challenge us all to let us work tirelessly to uphold the
values upon which this university was founded, and to chart a course towards an
even brighter future,” the chancellor said.
Graduating students
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 22,175
students in various disciplines participated in the convocation from NOUN 120
study centres nationwide.
While 15,768 bagged undergraduate degrees, 6,407 earned
postgraduate degrees, with the Faculty of Social Sciences producing the highest
number.
NAN also reports that 22 of the students got first class,
2,362 PGD graduates, 41 Master’s and six PhD holders. NAN
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