The Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has reaffirmed his commitment to continue to support the NOUN Staff School (NSS), Kaduna.
The Vice-Chancellor, through his representative, the Chairman Governing Board of the NOUN Staff School, Prof. Isaac Sammani Rabo Bustwat, made this statement in his remarks at the grand commissioning ceremony of a block of three classrooms constructed by the management of the university.
The VC reiterated his commitment to provide the basic needs that will enhance and provide quality education to the pupils.
He said with the commitment it portrays the school is really defining purpose, as education, he said, remains the bedrock of development in all ramifications.
Peters, who maintained that education is wealth, added that “there is no any other alternative rather than providing all the mechanisms that aid learning among which is the edifice we are witnessing the commissioning.”
He said out of the university’s budget “the management has been able to put and realise this impressive building that we are commissioning. I hope the school will use it for teaching the staff children and neighboring communities.”
The Vice-Chancellor urged the management and the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of the school to establish cordial working relationships to develop a persistent and harmonious working relation so as to make the school an epitome of the schools in the community and the state at large.
On the catastrophic activities of bandit that engulfed Kaduna State which led to the recent kidnap of 200 school children, the Peters commiserated with the state government and urged them to in a matter of urgency deploy all the necessary mechanisms to ensure safe return of the children.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Barrister Ismaila Mahmud Lawal said Kaduna State Government has voted 25% in its 2024 Appropriation Budget for education.
This has shown that the government of Kaduna State under the leadership of Mallam Uba Sani is priorotising education, the lawmaker said.
He added that on assumption of office, the governor cut down school fees in the state’s tertiary institutions, built additional classrooms across the schools in the state, adding that education development is everyone’s responsibility, as such “we don’t have to rely on government alone to take all the responsibilities.”
On his part, the Director, Centre for Human Resource Development (CHRD), Dr. Aminu Umar in his welcome address, appreciated the Vice-Chancellor and the entire management of the university for the kind gesture.
He assured his total commitment and determination to uplift the school to the highest level.
The director added that the building was constructed by the National Open University of Nigeria single-handedly without any intervention from government or individuals.
“Therefore, it is historic. After series of complaints, the VC gave his word to build the classes that can accommodate all the pupils,” said Umar.
He further said the VC gave the school a magnificent building despite the financial challenges.
He appreciated the Kaduna State Government for taking education as a priority by allocating 25 percent of its 2024 budget appropriation to education, saying that the the school is the only NOUN Staff School located in Kaduna under the supervision of the CHRD.
Umar explained that NSS was known for teaching science based subjects and modern technologies in order for the pupils to become up-to-date with the yearnings of 21st Century educational system.
NOUN Registrar, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, was represented by the Director, SERVICOM, Mrs. Margaret Boro and delivered a goodwill message on his behalf.
The event wrapped up with the official commissioning of the edifice by the Vice-Chancellor, who was assisted by the Chairman, House Committee on Education.
There were also goodwill messages by the community representatives, some high profile members of the NOUN community and a host of other distinguished guests.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, has, on behalf of the CHRD, presented a Letter of Commendation to Mr. Musa Aliyu Salisu, a security staff of the university due to a recent act of professionalism that averted the occurrence of kidnapping incidence in the school.
Salisu has received a lot of accolades from the dignitaries and other guests.
