The Okpe-Ukpi of Unone, Fugar Community in Edo State, His Royal Highness Emmanuel Ayekhele Ogah, has opined that the establishment of a study centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is the best thing providence can bequeath to any community.
The traditional ruler made this assertion while welcoming the director, Fugar Community Study Centre, Prof. Jonathan E. Aliede, who led an advocacy team of his study centre to the palace of the king in Fugar recently.
Ogah acknowledged that the study centre has filled a yawning educational gap in his community, but lamented that some youths in the community still preferred to idle about instead of taking full advantage of the existence of the institution in the area.
He commended the founding fathers and management of NOUN for the priceless and quality long-life education they are providing for Nigerians, urging them not to relent in their efforts.
He assured the advocacy team of the readiness of his palace and the community to always assist the study centre in the provision of some of its needs to ensure smooth operation of the staff of the centre and to maximise service delivery.
Earlier, Aliede had stated that he and his team were on a three-pronged visit: To rejoice with king on his recent official recognition by government; to congratulate him on his recent graduation with Postgraduate Diploma in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution of the National Open University of Nigeria; and to urge the palace to assist the study centre on its mobilisation for enhanced students enrolment.
While commending the royal father, who has already commenced his Masters Degree programme with NOUN, Aliede charged others in the area to take a cue from His Royal Highness, while urging the king to ensure that the community does not relent in its partnership with the study centre in line with the tenets of the law establishing the university which seeks for synergy in catering for the welfare of community study centres in the country.
Reiterating that Fugar was lucky to have the study centre located in it, the centre director reminded them that to whom much was given much was expected.
The advocacy programme was an extension of the massive mobilisation for students’ enrolment by the staff of the study centre, which has been extended to all nooks and crannies of Fugar Community and Edo North Senatorial Zone of the State.
The high point of the courtesy visit was the presentation of a pictorial souvenir to the royal father by Aliede on behalf of the study centre.
