NOUN, WACREN Deepen Ties To Strengthen Digital Education

The Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, has assured the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) of the university’s readiness to further strengthen existing collaboration between the two organisations.

WACREN is a regional organisation that builds and operates high-speed, secure network infrastructure and services for education and research communities.

Uduma, who stated this while playing host to a team from WACREN at his office in Abuja, explained that by forging a continued partnership, NOUN aims to maintain lead in strengthening digital education and research networks across the sub-region.

He said the university has been working with WACREN for quite a long time through the office of the DVC, Technology, Innovation and Research and appreciated the opportunities being offered by the network.

Uduma also acknowledged that NOUN has been a household name when it comes to Open Access to ensure a broader access to knowledge, which underlined the crucial role of digital infrastructure.

He told the visitors that he is ready and supportive of anything that will ensure the effective implementation of the collaboration between the two organisations.

Earlier, leader of the 3-man WACREN team, Mr. Omo Oaiya, who is the Chief Strategy Officer, said they were at the Vice-Chancellor’s office to appraise him on the existing relationship so as to find ways of strengthening it.

Oaiya, accompanied by Emeritus Prof. Ogugua Aworh and the chair, Eko-Konnect, Prof. Charles Uwaidia, told the VC that the Memorandum of Understanding with NOUN, signed in December last year, aims to create a project on Africa Digital Campus, where certain projects could be moved there.

He said the relationship, which is already “flourishing under the DVC TIR,” focuses on strengthening digital infrastructure, enhancing research capabilities, and fostering education through platforms like NOUN ‘s ACETEL.

The team’s leader added that the Lagos-based Eko-Konnect, as a member of the WACREN, runs the Nigerian identity in providing infrastructure and other key services.

He said through WACREN’s Living Lab initiative, it enables experimental test-beds for innovations, engaging diverse stakeholders for research around digital infrastructure.