The Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has approved the appointment of three new principal officers: the Registrar, School Bursar and Librarian.
This was made known in a press briefing delivered by Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola on Friday, June 24, 2022 at the university’s Lagos Office.
“After a thorough process, the appointments of Mr. Oladapo Adetayo Ajayi as Registrar, Mr. Nasir Gusau Marafa as Bursar and Dr. Angela Ebele Okpala as school Librarian was confirmed by the council,” he said.
Okebukola said the decision was made by the Governing Council of the institution which held its 69th Regular Meeting from 20th to 23rd, June, 2022.
He said the process, which began on the 11th of April 2022 with advert placements in some newspapers and the NOUN website, was concluded on June 23, 2022 after a rigorous examination for the candidates from within and outside the university.
The new principal officers are all staff of NOUN and have served as deputies in their various directorates for years.
They will assume office in September, following the expiration of appointments of the current Registrar and Bursar. Dr Angela Ebele Okpala was already the Ag. Librarian, and will resume fully in that position come September, he said.
The NOUN Council Chairman also spoke about student enrolment, which currently stands at 600,000 of which 150,000 are active.
He reiterated NOUN’s commitment to hit the one million enrolment mark as directed by the Federal Government, saying it will be achieved in a few years.
“We hope to meet this target and even surpass it in about five or six years’ time and this is without compromising standards in any way,” he said.
The Pro-Chancellor explained to the pressmen that all NOUN programmes are fully accredited by the National Universities Commission, including the flagship courses such as B,Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc. Entrepreneurship, B.Sc. Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, B.Sc. Criminology and Security Studies, B.Sc. Political Science and B.NSc. Nursing.
He thanked the Council for Legal Education for granting approval to NOUN Law graduates to be admitted into the Nigerian Law School as he that disclosed reports have revealed that the first set of the university’s Law graduates did exceptionally well in the Law School.
He said taking quality education is a core mandate of the university, and NOUN is always on the move to bring higher education to the doorsteps of the unreached.
With that at the forefront of the institution’s policy, Okebukola explained, 13 new study centres have been established in Kano State while two new centres are to be established in Lagos, Ikorodu and Badagry respectively.
The chairman, flanked by other council members, the Vice-Chancellor and directors, stated that this would provide more access to those who seek higher education that is affordable within these communities.
While speaking on the recently launched e-ticketing platform, Okebukola said council is pleased with the innovation, one that facilitates quick response to student and public complaints and enquiries.
He noted that since the system came online, over 100 inquiries/queries are attended to daily; saying that this is a great feat for NOUN in bringing the students closer and assisting all with prompt solutions.
Professor Okebukoa re-emphasised the council’s commitment to the welfare of both teaching and non-teaching staff with a promise to continue to place priority on issues that are beneficial to them.
The council applauded the management for the provision of laptops as working tools to academic staff, as a new policy; it also noted that it would be extended to other categories of staff as the implementation is in phases, he said.
Okebukola also said council has approved the promotion of 19 academic staff.
Writer: Tope Oyewole
