TELL Magazine

The Benin monarch, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolor, Ewuare II, has been installed as Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, (NOUN) with a mandate to improve on the fortunes of the University towards achieving the core mandate of the 42-year-old institution.

The visitor to the University, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, decorated Oba Ewuare II at the 13th Convocation/investiture Ceremony of the University on Saturday at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin in a statement, made available to journalists on Saturday in Benin City, said the Royal father was also conferred Honoris Causa, Doctor in Public Administration of National Open University of Nigeria.

In his acceptance speech after subscribing to the University’s oath led by the President, Oba Ewuare 11 formally constituted the Convocation for Award of first Degrees, Post graduate Degrees and other categories of awards/ certificates.

The Chancellor also called on federal government to consider a robust funding for the University and implored the government to be cautious in establishing universities with dual roles towards ensuring 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 establishing it. The first-class monarch advised graduands to be exemplary as NOUN alumni and explore entrepreneurship.

The Oba commended the University’s management for its commitment to service, 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 heralded 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 Tinubu, sued for cutting-edge multidisciplinary research that would benefit Nigerian citizens and Nigeria. He assured that the federal government would continue to promote distant learning, which he said had been widened by the government to accommodate private sector involvement in order to create access, promote quality and affordability in the mode of tertiary education.

The Honorary Award recipients are the Founder, Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company Limited, Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma – honorary doctorate degree in Business Administration, who was represented by Jonas Chukwu, a director in the company, and Hajiya Hafdatu Ahmed Abdulrahid, who bagged Honorary Doctorate Degree in Letters.