The Vice Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Abdalla Adamu, says the institution is set to introduce a programme for Nigerians in West African countries.
Adamu made the disclosure in Enugu on Wednesday when the management of the institution paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
He said that the whole idea was to provide an opportunity for Nigerians wherever they might be to acquire education, irrespective of distance, age and location.
According to him, this can be done online once there is Internet connection.
He explained that “the whole idea behind this is to help our fellow brothers and sisters living across West Africa.
“Some of them are traders and merchants and they control the economy of their host countries but do not have access to education.”
The vice chancellor said that the institution had grown in leaps and bounds since inception, adding that it knew neither religion nor social status.
He added that “we have about 150,000 students in different fields of study and Entrepreneurship Studies, with 32,000 students, has the largest number; this shows that people are interested in being self reliant.
“The second largest department is Conflict Resolution and Security Studies with 30,000 students.”
Adamu said that the institution was making aggressive efforts to boost literacy rate in the country “and part of the effort is what we call `Prisoners Empowerment Programme’ where we provide free education to inmates.
He then appealed to the Enugu State Government to assist the university with facilities such as computer sets, vehicle and land so that it could expand.
Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi commended the delegation for the visit, saying it offered the state the opportunity to share opinions on how to achieve quality education for all.
The governor said that residents of the state had benefitted from the programmes of the institution with the location of one of the study centres in the state.
“We shall consider your requests, subject to availability of funds,” he said.
Ugwuanyi, however, encouraged communities in the state to take advantage of the institution’s programmes to enhance their education and society at large. (NAN)
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