By Felix Khanoba
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is set to become the first tertiary education institution in the country to conduct online matriculation ceremony for its new students.
Universities in the country are currently under lock and key as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
But NOUN, renowned for its effective distance learning programme with about 500,000 students, says it has now concluded plans to conduct the first ever virtual matriculation on Saturday, June 18, 2020.
A statement made available to The AUTHORITY on Sunday and signed by Mr Ibrahim Sheme, Director of Media and Publicity of NOUN, said the move is not unconnected with the lockdown of the Nigerian education system occasioned by the dreaded pandemic.
The statement explained that the matriculation ceremony which will beam live on Zoom application from remote locations without the physical presence of students will see the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu, deliver his address while the matriculating oath would be administered by NOUN’s Registrar, Mr Felix Edoka.
The University advised new students to download the Zoom application on their electronic device to participate in the ceremony from any location, adding that the application password would be communicated to them soon.
In a related development, the University says it has withdrawn its earlier announcement that students could collect academic gowns from their various study centres for the matriculation ceremony, saying it was issued in error.
It called on students not to visit any study centre for academic gowns collection as the centre directors have been told not to open doors for such exercise or allow any gathering until the lockdown on education institutions is lifted by the government.
