- Installed as NOUN Chancellor
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, has asked the Federal Government, perhaps, through the National Universities Commission (NUC) to exercise caution in licensing universities that operate dual mode system of education
He expressed concern that the quality and standards of education might be affected if the government fails to exercise such cautions in giving operational licenses to institutions to operate Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system of education.
The Benin Monarch registered the concerns in his remarks shortly after his installation as the Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) which was part of the 13th convocation event of the university in Abuja, on Saturday.
He said: “While expansion educational facilities and opportunities are essential, it must not come at the expense of quality and integrity of the education being provided. To this end, Government must ensure that standards are upheld and pursuit of knowledge remains paramount in plans and activities.
“Another thing that requires urgent attention is the participation of eligible NOUN graduates in the one year National Youth Service Corp Scheme (NYSC). Necessary actions and approvals should be expedited for inclusion of these graduates in the NYSC scheme. This will not only empower the graduates psychologically, it will help them to contribute significantly to national development.”
He also asked the school management to strengthen the school Alumni network. “This will enhance efforts in supporting mentorship of current students, and facilitation of job placements for new graduates. All over the world, Alumni remains a veritable source and force for fund raising campaigns, endowments and scholarships for institutions of learning.”
NOUN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, in his remarks, highlighted the achievements of the school in the past year particularly in areas of physical and digital infrastructures, as well as ensuring that all the courses being offered in the school is up-to-date.
He congratulated Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing and Hajiya Hafsatu Abdulwaheed Ahmed, who were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees on Business Administration and Letters, respectively.
He said: “The choice of these awardees reflects our core values at NOUN which are Entrepreneurial ingenuity and Knowledge-based content creativity. As a mark of the profound admiration of Dr. Chukwuma’s entrepreneurial sagacity, the NOUN under my management has decided henceforth, to acquire only Innoson vehicular products as our operational vehicles.”
Regarding the 13th convocation ceremony, Prof. Peters said the event was an opportunity to celebrate the graduation of 22,175 students across undergraduate and postgraduate levels and diverse disciplines.
“Of these, 15,768 students achieved undergraduate qualification, while 6,407 earned postgraduate qualifications. At the undergraduate level, a total of 22 students graduated with first-class degree; 1,885 with second class (upper division); 8,434 with second class (lower) division; 3786 with third class; and 169 with Pass degrees.
“Of the 6,407 students who graduated at the postgraduate levels, 2,362 students obtained the Postgraduate Diploma; 4,039 students obtained the Master degree; and 6 students obtained the PhD degrees.
“I am also happy to announce that four of the doctoral graduates are from our flagship World Bank-assisted Africa Centre for Excellence for Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) which offers MSc and PhD programmes in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, and Management Information System (MIS).
“Meanwhile, these graduates, through our IT-driven Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL) system, acquired essential ICT skills that are indispensable, and will undoubtedly propel them toward success in their future endeavours”, he said.
The Visitor to the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by Deputy Executive Secretary of NUC, Dr. Noel Biodun Saliu, expressed excitement at the contributions of NOUN and ODL system to the education sector in Nigeria.
He promised to continue promote ODL system of education which, he said, has proven to be one of the strategies to improving access to higher education.
He also added that ODL has been expanded to accommodate private sector involvement to create access and promote quality as well as affordable modes of tertiary education.