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• NOUN best graduating student, Otache, lecturer, shares his experience
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Mr. Innocent Otache is the best graduating student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). He scored Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.60. 
He said the institution is in a class of its own “when it comes to moulding students to imbibe the culture of hard work, diligence and voracious reading habit.” He spoke at the 12th convocation of the university on March 24, 2023, in Abuja.
Otache with B.Sc in Entrepreneurship and Business Management was first among his 28,739 colleagues who graduated on March 24, 2023. He testified: “NOUN provides immense opportunities for those whose hope for acquiring university education early in life were dashed.
“Who would have believed that a man like me would have the chance to speak to these calibre of men that attended the convocation, and that I would be live on national television? But that has only been made possible by NOUN.”
Otache is a father and works as a lecturer at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Idah. He began his programme with NOUN in 2015. He spent over seven years to complete the academic and non-academic responsibilities:
“NOUN gave me the abilities and experience I required to meet the highly competitive labour market. It was a difficult experience, especially juggling work and school. However, it was still the best experience because it offered me the time and chance to work while learning. This is something impossible at conventional universities.
“There was a time when I had examination at NOUN and I was the examination officer at my place of work, Kogi State Polytechnic, Idah. In such case, I would hand out the examination scripts to other staff members to be distributed to students. Then I would quickly run to NOUN to write my examination.
“You have to be very hard-working and studious to be a NOUN student and graduate successfully. Students at this highly flexible university sometimes get carried away. But to succeed, you must put in a lot of efforts and develop a voracious reading habit.”
He praised NOUN for improving on its facilities: “These made learning simpler, easier and more efficient for students. But there is the need for regular curriculum update. I will advise my fellow graduates to go and make a difference in the world. We should also serve as good ambassadors for NOUN, being an illustrious university.”
Breakdown of the graduates showed 21,339 undergraduates; 7,401 postgraduates and 58 inmates out of which, seven were postgraduates. Six students bagged First Class degree; 2,306 graduated with Second Class Upper; 11,075 with Second Class Lower; 5,558 with Third Class and 279 graduating with Pass.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, charged to uphold their passion and actions as the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode of education: “Though ODL, obviously, provides freedom and flexibility of time to study, your passion and actions are what have made you to be a participant at the event. Without action, passion fizzles away and vision dies.”
He implored them to hold on to the vision borne out of circumstances that propelled them to enrol with NOUN: “Studying at an ODL institution is one of the most difficult tasks to embark on, especially studying for a certification.
“ODL has come to stay in our country. It is indeed and in truth a veritable pathway to achieving quality education, not just for people whose living circumstances did not allow them opportunities to attend conventional universities, but for all categories of knowledge seekers.
“NOUN is already on a mission of delivering strategic reforms using technology. “In continuation of our deliberate action to deploy technology for learning, I am happy to report that NOUN has moved with great speed and assured strides.
“Beyond being able to sustain the ownership of our information data and resources, we have improved on our course delivery strategies in definite ways. All our courses are basically delivered online within a robust Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). I am confident that by next convocation, I will be able to inform you that all our courses are now in video format.”
