The Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi Peters, has told the newly matriculated 16,659 of the school that the country needs their resourcefulness to excel in the competitive world.
The VC urged the students to demonstrate at all times to the society that NOUN offers quality education delivered with equality and flexible access.
According to him, this is what makes it possible to “learn at your pace and at any place.”
Peters said the institution’s 23rd matriculation ceremony was held virtually across its 108 study centres nationwide.
“The new entrants, comprising 11, 851 undergraduates and 4, 808 postgraduate students in various faculties, will join the over 150,000 returning students of the university. As our ambassadors, therefore, I expect you to be well behaved and demonstrate at all times, to your family members, friends and associates, the value that distinguishes you from your counterparts,” he said.
“It is my steadfast desire that you will acquire, at this university, appropriate knowledge and skills, as well as the requisite strength of character and tenacity to sail through the challenges of a modern world of global competition.
“This will enable you to contribute meaningfully to the elevation of Nigeria to its deserved place of greatness in Africa and the world.”
He further reiterated that NOUN is the only accredited single-mode Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution in Nigeria, fulfilling its mandate of equal access for all Nigerians and bringing education within reach.
Emphasising the openness of the university, Peters stated that the openness associated with the university simply means that the mode of teaching and service delivery is not restricted by the barriers of distance and location or the bias of creed.
He implored the students to dedicate themselves to the timely and appropriate use of learning materials and teaching aids which are available at the study centre of their choice as the flexibility and access to study materials and learning aids is a unique attribute of the university in ensuring equity in the right to education for all.
Speaking on the e-ticketing platform, the VC stated that the system was successfully deployed in the last academic session as a feedback system to resolve complaints that students may have during the course of their studies.
