NOUN is Not Inferior to Other Universities – Obasanjo
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Olusegun Obasanjo & Adeleke |
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reaffirmed the credibility of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), declaring it equal in standard to other universities. Speaking during a courtesy visit by NOUN officials and an alumni award presentation, Obasanjo said his personal experience as a student gives him confidence in the institution’s quality.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s educational history, Obasanjo noted that the University of Ibadan was the country’s only university for about a decade. Later came the federal universities such as UNN, UNIPORT, and ABU, followed by state and private universities. Despite this expansion, he said, the country still struggles to meet educational demand—prompting the need for NOUN.
Obasanjo addressed critics who questioned NOUN’s legitimacy, saying he enrolled to experience it firsthand. “I came, I saw, I conquered,” he said. He highlighted that his PhD was supervised by distinguished scholars, just like other students, and therefore not inferior.
He emphasized NOUN’s role in offering flexible learning for working professionals, noting the institution once had over half a million students and continues to grow. He pledged his continued support.
Prof. Ganiyat Adesina-Uthman, Director of NOUN’s Advancement and Linkages Directorate, described NOUN as a major asset not only to Nigeria but to Africa. She called for support for scholarships, renaming buildings after donors, and infrastructure like a guest house, a hospital, and a 1,000-seat auditorium.
She also appealed for support in providing services to communities around NOUN study centres, including textbooks, school uniforms, clean water, and transport facilities.
Prof. Wilfred Ngwuanyi, Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Africa Study at NOUN, praised Obasanjo’s contributions to African development. He sought Obasanjo’s assistance in facilitating collaboration with the EFCC for research and with the Chinese embassy to establish a cultural centre.
The event concluded with the conferment of an Alumni Award on the former president.
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