President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his dedication to revolutionising open and distance learning in Nigeria.
He made the commitment at the 13th convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
Tinubu, who is the visitor to the university said his administration would continue to support the institution for improved access, quality and relevance while speaking at the ceremony yesterday in Abuja.
The president was represented at the event by the deputy executive secretary, Administration, National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr Noel Salihu.
The president said the deployment of open learning approach is a major way of attaining SDG 4, adding that government was committed to working with NOUN to provide an enabling environment to achieve the feat.
The convocation ceremony also witnessed installation of the Oba of Benin Kingdom, Oba Ewuare II, as the new chancellor.
The university also conferred Honorary Doctor of Business Administration on a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and founder of Innoson Motors, Dr Innocent Chukwuma and Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) on Hajia Hafsatu Abdulwaheed Ahmed.
The president said, “Available statistics have shown that the deployment of the open and distance learning approach, particularly in the tertiary education sub-sector, is the major link to achieving SDG 4 by the year 2030.
“This administration will continue promote the open and distance learning approach as one of the strategies to improving access to higher education.
“Government is therefore, committed, through the federal ministry of education and NUC to provide the enabling Environment to ensure a good delivery of this mode of education in Nigeria.”
On his part, the vice chancellor of the University, Prof Olufemi Peters said the convocation was held simultaneously across the 36 states and the FCT.
According to him, the convocation ceremony further provides the institution an opportunity to celebrate the graduation of 22,175 students across undergraduate and postgraduate levels and diverse disciplines. Of these 15,768 achieved undergraduate qualification, while 6,407 earned postgraduate qualifications.
“At the undergraduate level, a total of 22 graduated with first-class; 1,885 with second class (upper division); 8,434 with second class (lower) division; 3,786 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 got master’s degrees and 6 students obtained the PhD degrees.
“I am also happy to announce that 4 of the doctoral graduates are from our flagship World Bank assisted Africa Centre for Excellence for Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL),” he said.
The minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu, decorated Oba Ewuare II as the chancellor on behalf of the president at the 13th Convocation/Investiture ceremony of the university yesterday in Abuja.
Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday in Benin City, said the Royal Father was also conferred Honoris Causa, Doctor in Public Administration of the National Open University of Nigeria.
In Oba Ewuare’s acceptance speech after subscribing to the university’s oath, formally constituted the convocation for award of first degrees, post graduate degrees and other categories of awards/ certificates.
The chancellor also called on the federal government to consider a robust funding for the university and implored the government to be cautious of establishing a university with dual roles to ensure that standards are upheld.
Oba Ewuare II who promised to carry out his responsibility diligently, also appealed to the government to include NOUN graduates into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme by amending the Act that established the university.
The traditional ruler advised the graduands in the University to be exemplary as NOUN Alumni and explore entrepreneurship.
The Oba commended the university’s management for its commitment to quality services.
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