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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
President Muhammadu Buhari has opened new vistas for the growth of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) with the appointment of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewaure II, as the Chancellor of the institution, member representing Ovia Federal Constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, said yesterday, in Benin.
The chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance, said the appointment came at a time the distance learning institution was in dire need of a turn around of its fortune to become one of the best in the continent and the world.
He said Oba’s wealth of experience would come in handy while his fatherly role was also needed to galvanise the growth of the university.
Idahosa, who was recently re-elected for a second term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said NOUN seems to have been weighed down with a number of challenges but has been able to bridge the gap between the conventional university system in Nigeria.
He, however, stressed the need for the university 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 the busy Nigerians who desire 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, but more still needed to be done for NOUN to operate at the standard of which it was established.
“This is exactly where the appointment of our revered Oba comes into play. His knowledge of what is obtainable in other climes and experiences in the Nigeria university system will come in handy. I can only appeal to the management team of the NOUN who have also been doing their best for the progress of the institution to cooperate and work with the monarch for the betterment of all.”
The Federal Government had announced the appointment of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare ll as Chancellor of NOUN by the management of the institution who visited him in his palace in Benin City last Friday.
