The Director, Abeokuta Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Dr. Oyekunle Adegboyega, has led members of staff to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ogun State, for an advocacy purpose.
The Director and his team were received by the Commissioner, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu and other senior directors in the ministry.
Adegboyega, while explaining the purpose of the visit to his host, disclosed the nature and system of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode of education championed by NOUN.
He also emphasised that NOUN, being the largest ODL single-mode institution in West African region, makes learning flexible, accessible and affordable to workers and people.
Staff of the ministry, he added, can apply for any of the various programmes to upgrade their academic qualifications as they stand to enjoy both learning and working at the same time.
The Director also requested the ministry to consider including the centre in their training, workshop or seminar, adding that students of the university who are indigenes of the state should be considered for the EDUCASH programme of the state government.
Responding, the Commissioner confirmed that a lot of improvement has been taken place in NOUN likewise the Open University of the UK.
Prof. Arigbabu affirmed the great standard and progress recorded by NOUN under the administration of the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Peters, which, he said, was commendable.
The Commissioner, however, expressed doubt on the request of including NOUN students in the EDUCASH programme due to what he put as NOUN’s student population and categories.
He then opined that it could still be worked out.
The Commissioner was presented with a souvenir on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Femi Peters by the Director, while fliers and other advocacy materials were also given to the Commissioner’s team.
