•Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to shift towards becoming a fully online institution, leveraging its existing expertise in open and distance learning.
This is even as he mandated the institution to maximize its delivery system by fully embracing technology, taking its online capabilities to the next level, reports Sunday Guardian.
Tinubu, who is the Visitor to the University, stated this at the weekend in Abuja at the 14th convocation of the institution.
Represented by the Director of Universities Education at the Ministry of Education, Hajiya Rakiya Ilyasu, the president said he believes that NOUN can play a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s education future and modern skills development.
He said, “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.”
He urged the university to spearhead digital learning advancements across Africa, maximizing its potential as a hub for open and distance learning.
According to him, by doing so, NOUN can help address Nigeria’s educational challenges, such as inadequate access to quality education and high illiteracy rates, particularly in rural areas.
This, he stressed, aligns with the broader goals of Nigeria’s education system, which aims to equip individuals with essential skills like technological, scientific, vocational, entrepreneurial, and interpersonal skills to drive economic growth and innovation.
“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”.
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 were awarded Postgraduate diplomas, with 4,310 Master’s degrees and 40 Doctorate degrees.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Olufemi Peters, advised the graduating students to maintain integrity, strive for excellence, and apply their knowledge to make a positive difference in society.
Peters urged them to stay connected to their alma mater by supporting the university’s growth and development initiatives, both as individuals and as a collective group.
Also, the Pro-Chancellor, Isa Yuguda, called for the inclusion of NOUN graduates in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The event also featured conferment of honorary degrees on African Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, for their outstanding contributions to the country.
While Dr Adesina was awarded with Doctor of Humane Letter, Abbas received a Doctor of Business Administration.
