Hon Dennis Idahosa (APC -Edo), has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has opened new vistas for the growth of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) with the appointment of the Benin monarch, Oba Ewaure II as the Chancellor.
Idahosa who represents Ovia Federal Constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, commended President Buhari on the appointment.
The chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance, stated this in a press statement made available to newsmen in Benin on Saturday.
The lawmaker said that the appointment was coming at a time when the distance learning institution was in dire need to turn around its fortune and become one of the best around the continent and indeed the world.
He noted that not only would the Oba wealth of experience come in handy in this quaest, his fatherly role was also needed to galvanise this growth.
Idahosa who said that the NOUN seems to have been weigh down with number of challenges, however, have been able to bridge the gap between the conventional University system in Nigeria.
The lawmaker particularly stressed the need for the NOUN improve on students access and use of ICT for efficient learning process.
According to him, “I can’t appreciate the President enough for this appointment because what he has succeeded in doing is to put a square peg in a square hole.
“Oba of Benin wealth of experience will count at this critical time when the demand for quality education, especially at the tertiary level is in high demand.
“The demand for University education, especially for the busy Nigerians whl deaire University education was what necessitated the setting up of NOUN and while the University has done a lot to bridge the gap between the conventional universities, but more still needed to be done for NOUN to operate at the standard of which it was established.
“This is exactly where the appointment of our revered Oba comes into play. His knowledge of what is obtainable in other clime and experiences in the Nigeria university system will come in handy.
“I can only appeal to the management team of the NOUN who have also been doing their best for the progress of the institution to cooperate and work with the Monarch for the betterment of all.”
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had announced the appointment of His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin as the Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The appointment was communicated to the Oba when Prof. Olufemi Peters, the Vice Chancellor of the University and other Management Staff paid a him a courtesy visit at the palace in Benin City.
During the visit, Prof. Olufemi had given insight into the workforce plan of the school and assured the Oba that fortunes of the University would improve tremendously with him as the Chancellor
“The reason why this University was established by the federal government is to bring University education to as many Nigerians wherever they are and whatever their circumstances or social hindrances may be.
“We are in every state of this Country, serving every area. We have over 120,000 students. It is the biggest University in Nigeria,” he had stated.
In his response, the Monarch accepted his appointment and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for finding him worthy of the position.
Oba Ewuare II, promised to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of his duties and leverage on his experience during his diplomatic sojourn towards improving teaching and learning in the University with the support of its Management team.
