NOUN’s Chancellor Seeks Inclusion Of Its Graduates In NYSC

By Ayodele Oni

The National Open University of Nigeria, (NOUN) at the weekend turned out a total of 24,575 graduands that were awarded various degrees at its 15th convocation.

At the occasion, the Federal Government said it is fully transforming NOUN into an international competitive online university, even as the push for the inclusion of NOUN graduates in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.

President Bola  Tinubu made this known in a message to the  convocation of the university held at the weekend.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Executive Secretary of the National universities Commission, (NUC) Prof Abdullahi Ribadu said government was also expanding access , improving quality and strengthening infrastructure and integrating technology to Teaching and learning.

The Chancellor of the National open university of Nigeria, His Royal majesty, omo N’ Oba N’Edo, Uku okpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare, oba of Benin, called on the Federal Government to increase sustained intervention funding for the University.

“It is therefore incumbent upon me, in my capacity as Chancellor, to respectfully call the attention of the Federal Government to the imperative of dedicated and sustained intervention funding for this University.

“If we are to fully harness its strategic importance, then its physical and technological infrastructure must be commensurate with its national mandate”

“I call on appropriate authorities to remove all impediments preventing eligible graduates of this University from participating fully in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.

“Equity and justice demand that no graduate of a duly recognised Nigerian university should suffer disadvantage on account of the mode through which their education was delivered”.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution Prof Uduma Uduma stated that the university has continued to invest strategically in technology as the backbone of its Open and Distance Learning mandate, but appealed for more support.

“As we look ahead, we seek continued partnership in strengthening our ICT resources, expanding our data centre capacity, procuring additional computer systems for collaborations with Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and supporting our role in hosting Computer-Based Tests for national bodies es such as JAMB and NECO across our Study Centres.

“NOUN’s research enterprise has recorded remarkable progress, reflecting a deliberate commitment to scholarly excellence and global competitiveness”

Prof Uduma Oji Uduma gave a breakdown of the number of the graduating students which included 17,474 undergraduate degrees, 1,788 postgraduate diplomas, 5,282 master’s degrees, and 31 doctoral degrees.