The Management of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) said it will award honorary degrees to Hajiya Hafsat Abdulwahid, the female novelist in northern Nigeria, and the Chairman of Innoson Motors, Dr Innocent Chukwuma, for distinguishing themselves in promoting local content and education in the country.
The vice chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi A. Peters, speaking at its 13th pre-convocation briefing on Monday in Abuja, said the varsity will also do the investiture on the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Alpolokpolo, Ewuare 11, as their new chancellor designate.
He appreciated President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for finding His Majesty worthy to be appointed as their chancellor.
The vice chancellor noted that Innoson is to be conferred with an honorary degree in Business Administration and Hafsat with Doctor of Letters.
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He explained that Dr Chukwuma is a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and his creativity, innovation and commitment to local content is more of the reason the university has considered him fit to be honoured.
For Hafsat, she is the first female novelist in northern Nigeria and an eminent activist who has dedicated her life and work to promoting education, particularly for girls within her domicile and she believes in the transformative power of literacy to uplift communities and break the circle of poverty.
He said: “The last time we had an honorary degree in this varsity was 2015 as it is not something we do often.
“The two awardees reflect the core values of National Open University of Nigeria, which is enterpreneurial ingenuity and content creativity, and we are very glad that they accepted to be honoured by the university.”
He also disclosed that the convocation lecture to be held on Thursday will be delivered by the vice chancellor of Open University of Tanzania, Prof. Elifas Bisanda, on “Is western education still relevant for Africa?”
The vice chancellor however noted that a total of 22, 175 students will be graduating in the forthcoming 13th convocation across the country.
He gave the breakdown of the graduating students as 15, 768 undergraduates and 6,407 post-graduates out of which 22 will bag a First Class, 1, 886 Second Class Upper, 8,427 Second Class Lower, 3,782, Third Class and a few Pass degrees.
Prof. Peters noted that the number of graduates is high and that is why the university was established to be able to bring in more literacy to the Nigerian community and other opportunities.
The VC also disclosed that the varsity has resolved the issue affecting its law students and will soon commence the building of a law faculty in preparation for admitting law students.
While noting that the varsity among other feats has grown its study centres from 17 to 120 across the country to make it easy for their students to have access to education, he said they have also deployed technology and developed electronic contents for all courses to assist their students.
The vice chancellor also expressed optimism in their graduates being granted the opportunity to go for NYSC soon, saying work is on ground to make that come to reality.
