The Vice-Chancellor, National open university of Nigeria, NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters has pledged his full support for the activities of the National open university of Nigeria Alumni Association, NOUNAA.
Peters in his remarks stressed the important role Alumni plays in building of any institution, and said he hopes that the university will later leverage on the support of the Alumni in the future to build the university.
While urging them to design a form for the graduates to enable them partake in the 1 billion naira alumni village, he pledged to build a befitting office complex for them before the end of his tenure.
The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the Directorate of Advancement and linkages led by Mrs. Omorogieve E. Ileka for their great dedication to service and also charged the Alumni to play the same strategic roles alumina association play in institutions all over the world.
The lecture which was part of the activities leading to the 11th convocation ceremony, was aimed at taking steps towards the rebranding of the Alumni association, and targeted mainly graduating students, also to teach them the role they need to play to become good Ambassadors of the Institution after graduation.
The lecture which was first in the series of the Association titled; ‘the role of Open University education to nation building’, was delivered by Prof. Tomola M. Obamuyi a Professor of Finance and Entrepreneurship of the Federal University of Technology Akure, held at the Abuja model Centre, on the 24th march, 2022.
The guest lecturer, prof. Obamiyi a former Director of Advancement FUTA Akure, commended the National open university of Nigeria, NOUN, for assisting in building and developing the nation, in the areas of entrepreneurship, easy and accessible education and its large number of graduates which contributed significantly to industrial development.
He added that despite the insufficient allocation for education and in a very unhealthy economic situation in the country NOUN is doing its best to deliver on its mandate of taking education to the people.
Obamiyi also urged NOUN Management to inculcate more critical survival skills in their curriculum for all students to help them boast their self-employability.
He NOUN has become a model for others to follow in its leading role in providing access to quality education and meeting the needs of employer.
Obamiyi further stated that with right technology Noun was not affected with the COVID-19 pandemic, and until we take education as a long term investment for a better future, the role of university in nation building will not be achieved.
He however, suggested that to prevent all the challenges both social and economic, there must be proper management of resource in education sector and increased allocation to the sector.
To the graduates Obamiyi urged them to be good Ambassadors of NOUN, and to contribute positively in making their Alma mater more prominent.
The Association also was advised to follow up with their members to recognize them and research about them through messages, and to appreciate them in order to bring them closer and make them significant donors.
The Director, Advancement and Linkages, Mrs. Omorogieve Ileka in her closing address also thanked the University management for their interest, support trust and confidence in the present NOUN Alumni but also advised the the executives of the Alumni to be up and doing and not betray the confidence this administration has bestowed on them.
The Alumni president Muntaka Hadi Dabo in his address also thanked the VC for his numerous works and his profound support and for the cordial relationship with the NOUN Alumni and for standing up to their responsibilities amongst which were enrollment of NOUN Law graduates into the Nigerian Law School.
