The Director, Sapele Community Study Centre, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Sapele, Delta State, Dr. Anthony Kaine, along with the executive members of Sapele-Okpe Community Development Union, have played host to a delegation of the National Universities Commission (NUC), who were on a mission for resource verification of the new centre.

Kaine, while receiving the NUC delegation, explained the advantages of the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode of instructional delivery as promoted by NOUN and called on the youth and others in the area who desire to upgrade their academic statuses to embrace the opportunity provided by the university for self development.

“I call on the mechanics, the artisans and all to come and enroll provided they have their required WAEC/NECO credits. They don’t even need to write JAMB,” he said.

Prof. Ademola Adewara of the Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos, who led the NUC delegation, said that they were at the centre to verify available resources in order to guarantee quality assurance and to ensure that the centre meets basic standard for learning and research.

Adewara said Sapele was so fortunate to have the study centre and congratulated the community for bringing “this kind of development to the community. 

“I wish I could also attract this kind of development to my community, where I would be counted as one of the illustrious sons of the land,” he said.

He charged leaders of Sapele-Okpe Community to persuade youths and other community leaders to take advantage of the study centre in order to acquire more learning, change their orientation and write a new narrative about the community through the study centre.

“When you persuade the youth to enroll and study here, by the time they are done with the study, they will never remain the same,” he said.

The Chairman, Sapele-Okpe Community Development Union, Mr. Patrick Akamovba, while explaining the purpose of the NUC visit to the centre, stated that it is the practice that when a study centre has been established, students have been admitted and operations have begun in earnest, the NUC as the foremost regulatory body for higher education in the country, must come to inspect and ascertain that facilities at the centre meet required standard.

“We are happy that Sapele Community Study Centre has been rated as one of the best in the entire country. We, therefore, urge our people to come and take advantage of the study centre and enroll for any programme of their choice,” Akamovba said.

The community, according to him, was ready to do anything to ensure that the study centre meets and surpasses the required regulatory standard, as Sapele was long overdue for an institution of higher learning.

The Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area, Hon. Godwin Atose, expressed delight that the centre is opened in Sapele, which he described as an old cosmopolitan town, and called on all and sundry to embrace the project to enhance learning and skill development in the area.