By Chimezie Godfrey
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the Federal Government is transforming the National Open University of Nigeria into an internationally competitive online institution.
Tinubu stated this in a message to the university’s 15th convocation ceremony, delivered by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Abdullahi Ribadu.
He said the government is expanding access to education, improving quality, strengthening infrastructure and deploying technology in teaching and learning.
The Chancellor, Ewuare II, urged the Federal Government to provide sustained funding for the university.
“It is therefore incumbent upon me, in my capacity as Chancellor, to respectfully call the attention of the Federal Government to the imperative of dedicated and sustained intervention funding for this University. If we are to fully harness its strategic importance, then its physical and technological infrastructure must be commensurate with its national mandate,” he said.
He also called for the inclusion of NOUN graduates in the National Youth Service Corps.
“I therefore most earnestly urge the appropriate authorities to remove all impediments preventing eligible graduates of this University from participating fully in the National Youth Service Corps scheme. Equity and justice demand that no graduate of a duly recognised Nigerian university should suffer disadvantage on account of the mode through which their education was delivered,” he added.
The Vice-Chancellor, Uduma Oji Uduma, said the university is strengthening its technology base but requires additional support.
“As we look ahead, we seek continued partnership in strengthening our ICT resources, expanding our data centre capacity, procuring additional computer systems for collaborations with Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and supporting our role in hosting Computer-Based Tests for national bodies such as JAMB and NECO across our study centres,” he said.
He added that 24,575 students graduated at the ceremony.
“At this 15th convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria, a total of 24,575 graduands are being awarded various qualifications. This includes 17,474 undergraduate degrees, 1,788 postgraduate diplomas, 5,282 master’s degrees, and 31 doctoral degrees,” he said.
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