From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has challenged the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to champion the cause of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) “revolution” in Nigeria leveraging the increasing technology penetration and infrastructures in Nigeria.
The President gave the charge in his address as the Visitor to NOUN at the 14th convocation ceremony of the University in Abuja, at the weekend.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who represented the President through the Rakiya Gambo, Director of University Education, Federal Ministry of Education, told NOUN that education and other service delivery systems have changed drastically due to increasing access to technology, asking the university to champion the cause of the transition.
He described NOUN as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and inclusivity in Nigeria’s education landscape, that had, over the years, provided flexible, accessible and high quality education to all Nigerians irrespective of location and age.
He said: “NOUN has successfully bridged the gap between the conventional University and the growing demand for accessible, flexible and quality tertiary education. It has continued to fulfil the mandate with remarkable success.
“I was recently informed that NOUN has over 120,000 active students from 120 study centres across 26 states and FCT. That’s commendable. But we must leverage Information Technology to further expand the net and enhance the education delivery services.
The President said that Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has been directed to strengthen the technology infrastructures in NOUN headquarters, Abuja, and its study centres across the country particularly the fibre optic infrastructure in order to provide seamless internet access for students.
“This will harness the power of technology to improve access to education, and foster inclusivity. Undoubtedly, NOUN has made significant contributions in advancing the use of technology as alternative approach to teaching and learning.”
“It has raised the need to transition into full online university in line with its expertise and mastery of ODL system of education. NOUN should therefore take its delivery systems to fullest potential by embracing technology. The university management should develop a roadmap for the transition highlighting the infrastructural needs and the expected timelines.
NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, in his welcome address restated the readiness of the NOUN to champion the cause of ODL revolution in Nigeria, and also ready to mentor government and private ODL institutions in Nigeria.
He confirmed that the some private ODL institutions already licensed by the federal government are being mentored by NOUN, appreciating the Visitor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Minister of Education, Dr. Alausa, for the trust and confidence in the school.
Prof. Peters confirmed that over 17, 000 graduands were properly tutored, and prepared to champion activities that would herald socioeconomic growth and development in Nigeria and beyond.
He congratulated the students and charged them to be good ambassadors of the school particularly in character and learning.
Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who was awarded Doctorate degree alongside Dr. Akinwummi Adesina, President of African Development Bank Group (AfDB), made a promise that the lawmakers will continue to support NOUN vis-a-vis ODL institutions.
He noted that ODL system is fast disrupting, positively, the cause of education delivery services in the world leveraging the opportunities of increasing technology.