President Bola Tinubu has charged the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to take the lead in advancing digital learning across Africa.
Tinubu, who is the Visitor to the university, stated this at its 14th convocation in Abuja yesterday.
The university graduated a total of 17,420 students, comprising 10,967 undergraduates and 6,413 postgraduate students.
At the undergraduate level, a total of 16 graduated with a first-class; 1,417 with second class (upper division); 5,518 with second class (lower division) 2,761 with third class and 138 with pass degrees respectively.
At the postgraduate level, 2,103 will be awarded postgraduate diplomas, with 4,310 Master’s degrees and 40 Doctorate degrees.
The president who was represented by the director of universities education, Hajiya Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu, said NOUN held the potential to shape the future of Nigeria’s education and modern-day skills development.
“The federal government, under my leadership, remains committed to supporting education by liberating information technology to enhance learning. Through strategic intervention, we are ensuring that education remains inclusive and technologically driven.
“In particular, the federal government’s two-thirds form is financing the installation of fibre optics infrastructure at NOUN to provide seamless Internet access to a substantial number of student and study centres across the various geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
“This initiative harnesses the power of technology to improve access to education and foster inclusivity. A large number of our universities have indeed benefited significantly from various federal interventions, particularly in the areas of fiscal infrastructure and research grants awarded to staff through institutional-based research,” the president said.
He also emphasised the need for NOUN to transition into a fully online university in light of its expertise and mastery of open and distance learning and therefore directing that the University take its delivery system to the fullest potential by embracing technology holistically.
“This transition requires NOUN to fully leverage cutting-edge digital tools to ensure accessibility, flexibility, and the overall quality of education. I want to assure you that this administration will provide full support for the project, ensuring that necessary policies, infrastructure, and resources are in place to facilitate a seamless and sustainable transition.
“To actualise this vision, I urge the leadership of the University to, as a matter of urgency, develop a comprehensive roadmap for the transition, outlining key phases, infrastructural needs, and expected timelines, strengthening the learning content management system, and integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality for interactive learning experiences, enhance faculty capacity through continuous training in digital technology and instructional design, expand partnerships with global and local technology providers to ensure the availability of robust digital platforms, and ensure that the policy framework promotes inclusivity, data security, and regulatory compliance in online learning. In the present rapidly evolving digital landscape, the information technology sector presents immense employment opportunities waiting to be harnessed.
“By this, government has demonstrated implicit faith in online delivery of instruction. It is, therefore, imperative to challenge the Vice Chancellor and the entire NOUN community to take a more proactive role in building local capacity to tap into these opportunities. Internationally, economies are shifting towards knowledge-based systems, and Nigeria must not be left behind,” he added.
In his remarks, the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Olufemi Peters, said the convocation was being held simultaneously in Abuja and across 36 state centres.
He encouraged the graduating students to uphold integrity, pursue excellence, and use their education to positively impact society.
He encouraged them to remain connected to their alma mater by actively supporting the university’s development efforts, both individually and collectively.
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