The federal government has assured the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) of support to ensure the advancement of its open and distance learning structure.
The assurance was given at the 14th convocation of the university, where the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees.
While Speaker Abbas was conferred with an honorary doctorate of Doctor of Business Administration, Adesina bagged an honorary doctorate of Doctor of Humane Letters.
President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said NOUN would be strongly supported through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund).
The president said there is a need to advance technology in tertiary institutions to guarantee robust learning, especially for open and distance learning.
“The federal government under my leadership is committed to supporting education by leveraging information technology to enhance learning.
“Through strategic intervention, we are ensuring that education remains the key to our technological development.
“As such, the federal government through TetFund, is financing the fibre optic infrastructure at NOUN to provide seamless internet access to a substantial number of students at study centres across the geo-political zones of the country.
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“This initiative harnesses the power of technology to improve access to education as fast as possible.
“This university has benefitted immensely from various government interventions provided through TetFund, and we remain committed to ensuring that possible financial resources are consistently provided for the advancement of education through open and distance learning in Nigeria,” Tinubu said.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olufemi Peters, said the NOUN had continued to receive requests for the establishment of additional study centres from prominent individuals, community leaders and associations.
This, he said, is a testament to the essential role the institution had played in serving the nation.
“To meet the demand of our expanding reach, we leverage cutting-edge information and communication technology to enhance instructional delivery and improve learning outcomes.
“Our global learning culture is further enriched through innovative collaborations and partnerships with institutions such as the University of South Africa, the Open University, UK, the Open University of Tanzania and so on,” he said.
According to the vice chancellor, the 14th convocation was another opportunity for the NOUN to celebrate the academic achievements of its students, out of which 17, 420 graduated, comprising 10,967 undergraduates and 6,413 postgraduate students.
