By Felix Khanoba
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) says it has earmarked N100,000,000 annually to support research activities of its academic staff to meet the global expectations placed on them and the University.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Olufemi Peters, who made this known at the 11th convocation ceremony of NOUN on Saturday in Abuja, said the money will complement Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s (TETFund) research intervention in the institution, among others.
His words: “Upon my assumption of office, it was clear that the support by the Federal Government through TETFund for research will not adequately address the research goals and demands on research in NOUN.
“Consequently, there was the need to look inwards for ways to empower our academic staff to aspire to the global expectations placed on them and the University.
“I am therefore pleased to report, the resuscitation of the University Research Board, which liaises with the restructured Directorate of Research Administration; and the disbursement of a on hundred million naira (N100,000,000) research grant that the University has set aside annually to supplement TETFUND provisions. In addition, my administration made available a 50 million naira (N50,000,000) annual research grant to support NOUN’s Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning Research activities.”
Speaking on the convocation, the visibly excited Professor Peters, said 22,250 graduating students successfully scaled through the University’s programmes, hence, the graduation ceremony.
“I am delighted to present to the world. a total number of 22,250 graduating students who have passed the prescribed examinations and have accordingly been adjudged worthy in character and learning to receive their degrees across various disciplines.
“At the undergraduate level, a total of 16,679 students are graduating, out of which 69 students are in the First-Class Division: 4,327 students in the 2nd Class Upper Division: 9,499 students in the Second Class Lower Division and 2,700 students in the Third Class Division. We also recorded 84 students with pass degrees,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor, who congratulated the graduards, listed some of the achievements recorded with the last year to include massive infrastructural development, introduction of strategic reforms, staff capacity building, study centres reforms and learners support services.
Others include linkage, partnerships and collaborations with outside institutions, improved research activities, quality assurance, digital reforms, among others.
Also speaking at the event, Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of governing council of the University, Peter Okebukola, expressed delight that NOUN’s law graduates in the Nigerian Law School, are living up to expectations.
Okebukola said the University is also walking round the clock to ensure that eligible NOUN’s graduates are allowed to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
He said : “Your Excellency (President Buhari) would recall the bold step you took in assenting to the National Open University Amendment Act.
“This singular act of Mr. President did not only elevate the legal status and the quality of the delivery system of NOUN, but I am delighted to announce that presently, NOUN has slightly over 1,500 of its law graduands attending the Nigerian Law School and reports reaching us have it that our students are performing excellently.
“This, no doubt erases the negative perception by the general public that Open and Distance education is inferior to the conventional face to face University education.
“The age-long discrimination against eligible NOUN graduates to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), unfortunately is still but I am pleased to informed Mr. President that discussions are on-going to address the matter.”
On his part, the visitor to the University, President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed delight that NOUN is indeed delivering on its mandate by taking affordable University education to the door steps of Nigerians irrespective of their location, tribe, sex and religion.
Represented by the acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Gende, Buhari called on universities to pay particular attention to entrepreneurship programmes and job creation skills.
“It is pertinent to restate that the nation’s educational curriculum be geared towards placing emphasis on entrepreneurship education. There must be a paradigm shift in the focus and orientation of our graduates towards employment opportunities. The realisation of this objective lies with our universities to develop new curricula that will lay emphasis on self-employment.
“It is pleasing to note that the National Universities Commission (NUC) is about to conclude the comprehensive review of the curricula of all programmes in our universities and placing a premium on entrepreneurship.
“This, as we all know, is a driver to increase productivity and reduction in unemployment figures among our youths,” Buhari said.
