Former President Olusegun Obasanjo affirms the National Open University of Nigeria’s credibility, calling it essential for accessible, quality education in Africa

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]OUN not inferior to conventional universities in Nigeria, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared, reaffirming the credibility and relevance of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as a transformative institution in the country’s education sector.

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Obasanjo made the statement on Monday during a courtesy visit by top NOUN officials who conferred on him an Alumni Award at his residence.

The former President, who resuscitated NOUN on 12 April 2001 during his first term in office, also obtained a PhD from the university after his presidency.

Drawing from personal experience, Obasanjo said, “Some people rose, saying an open university is inferior to non-open universities, but I was not discouraged. I said, let me go there and have a taste of what they’re saying. Then I came in, I saw, and I conquered.”

He highlighted the growing educational gap despite the existence of public and private universities, noting that NOUN was established to fill that void by offering flexible learning opportunities to working Nigerians and distant learners.

“Despite the availability of universities, we’re still not coping; the gaps keep getting wider, which is why I said the open university is a necessity. It created more avenues and made it convenient for working-class citizens,” Obasanjo said.

Addressing claims of inferiority, he insisted: “Two distinguished lecturers supervised me and supervised many other PhD students, and if they supervised me successfully, my PhD wouldn’t be inferior.

NOUN has created educational access for many Nigerians who would otherwise be left behind. It is not inferior. It is the future,

So, if mine isn’t inferior and those before me are not inferior, National Open University has come to stay.”

The visit also highlighted institutional development needs. Professor Ganiyat Adesina-Uthman, Director at NOUN’s Directorate of Advancement and Linkages, described the university as a pan-African model.

She appealed to Obasanjo for support in raising scholarships and infrastructure, including a university hospital, a 50-room guest house, and a 1,000-capacity auditorium.

“We need scholarships for flagship programmes such as Entrepreneurship Studies, Criminology and Security Studies, Mass Communication, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution,” she said, also seeking support for community services including water access, school uniforms, and transport facilities.

Also speaking, Professor Wilfred Ngwuanyi, Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for African Studies at NOUN, praised Obasanjo’s consistent advocacy for African self-reliance.

He requested assistance in facilitating collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Chinese embassy for academic partnerships and cultural exchange.

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Obasanjo pledged his continued support for the institution, which now boasts hundreds of thousands of students across Nigeria and remains Africa’s largest open and distance learning university.

Source: Read more at thisdaylive.com