The lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Dennis Idahosa (APC-Edo) has said a new vista had been opened for the growth of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) with the appointment of the Benin monarch, Oba Ewaure II as its chancellor.
Commending President Buhari on the appointment, the chairman, House Committee on Legislative Compliance, stated this in a press statement made available to newsmen in Benin yesterday.
He said the appointment came at a time when the distance learning institution was in dire need to be turned around and become one of the best on the continent and indeed the world.
He noted that not only would the Oba’s wealth of experience come in handy, but that his fatherly role was also needed to galvanise this growth.
Idahosa who said NOUN seemed to have been weighed down with a number of challenges, said it had been able to bridge the gap between conventional universities in Nigeria.
The lawmaker particularly stressed the need for NOUN to improve on students’ access and use of ICT for efficient learning process.
“I can’t appreciate the president enough for this appointment because what he has succeeded in doing is to put a square peg in a square hole.
“Oba of Benin’s wealth of experience will count at this critical time when the demand for quality education, especially at the tertiary level, is in high demand.
“The demand for university education, especially for busy Nigerians in need of university education was what necessitated the setting up of NOUN and while the university has done a lot to bridge the gap between the conventional universities, more still needs to be done for it to operate at the standard which it was established,” he said.
