Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, as the Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), with a mandate to improve the fortunes of the university towards achieving the core mandate of the institution.
Tinubu, who is Visitor to the university, was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, who decorated the monarch at the 13th of Convocation/investiture ceremony of the university yesterday in Abuja.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, in a statement, made available to journalists in Benin City, said the royal father was also conferred with Honoris Causa, Doctor in Public Administration of the National Open University of Nigeria.
In Oba Ewuare’s acceptance speech after subscribing to the university’s oath led by the President, he formally constituted the convocation for the award of first degrees, postgraduate degrees, and other categories of awards/certificates.
The chancellor also called on the federal government to consider robust funding for the university and implored the government to be cautious of establishing universities with dual roles to ensure that standards are upheld.
Oba Ewuare II who promised to carry out his responsibility diligently, also appealed to the government to include NOUN graduates in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme by amending the Act that established the university.
The traditional ruler advised the graduands of the university to be exemplary as NOUN Alumni and explore entrepreneurship.
The Oba commended the university’s management for its commitment to service, which serves as an inspiration to the university, where a total of 22,175 graduates bagged various degrees and merit awards.
In his address, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, said the convocation marked a milestone for graduands at the event, which he said heralds a new era for those who seek knowledge regardless of their academic background.
He also stated that the university under his leadership has made it a policy to acquire and use only vehicles from Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company in a bid to promote local content.
Addressing graduands at the ceremony, President Bola Tinubu, sued for cutting-edge multidisciplinary research that would benefit Nigerian Citizens and Nigeria.
He assured that the federal government would continue to promote distance learning, which he said has been widened by the government to accommodate private sector involvement to create access and promote quality and affordability in the mode of tertiary education.
The honorary award recipients are the Founder, Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company Limited, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, who was represented by a Director in the company, Mr. Jonas Chukwu, receiving an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration, and Hajiya Hafdatu Ahmed Abdulrahid who bagged honorary Doctorate in Letters at the convocation.
