The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NOUN

  • NOUN students seek NYSC placement

    NOUN students seek NYSC placement

    The National Open University Students Association of Nigeria has expressed dissatisfaction in the non-participation of its members in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

    The National President of the association, Mr Nelson Nwaonicha, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba yesterday.

    Nwaonicha said the non-inclusion of the graduates of the university in the NYSC programme was discriminatory.

    He said there was great pride in serving one’s country, as the NYSC gave every Nigerian graduate a sense of belonging, personal worth and recognition by one’s own nation.

    He said it would amount to abandonment and violation of the principle of federal character and integration, if a set of Nigerian students were not included in the scheme.

    Nwaonicha said the service was created to inculcate discipline in, educate and integrate the youth, regardless of their institutional, cultural and social backgrounds.

    He appealed to the National Assembly to review the Act establishing the NOUN with a view to including its graduates in the allowed age bracket in the programme.

    The national president also called on the management of the university to stop admitting students for law programmes, pending the approval of the Law School.

    He recalled that the first two sets of law graduates of the NOUN had not been admitted into the law school to be certified to practice their trade.

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  • NOUN’s extortionate fee regime

    SIR:  It is time for the relevant authorities in charge of academic matters in Nigeria to turn to the National Open University of Nigeria to end the insupportable exploitation currently being executed at that institution.

    That the National Open University of Nigeria has turned itself into a money-draining agency is stale news to those who are conversant with the system. But it is inconceivable that a people can be pushed to this humiliating extent and still decide to maintain grinning visages in the face of such alien oppression! It is this passive role championed by the University’s students themselves that I have struggled so hard to decipher.

    Although I have been very uncomfortable with the entire situation, I deliberately kept mum all along hoping that this epidemic would die a natural death. But now, with its rapid growth, developing deep roots into our system like a vicious virus, I feel it is time to blow the whistle. Firstly, it is not clear why the University charges a COMPULSORY registration fee for research project for final-year students. Last semester (2014/15 academic session), this fee was charged at N10,000. Now, the University has, for unknown reasons, and without any official notice to its students, decided to increase this fee to the sum of N15,000. I am unable to figure out the rationale for which students should pay the university for a research that will be carried out by the students themselves. The act is completely indefensible and a deliberate ploy to get money off students.

    Secondly, depending on the course, students are sent out every semester for Industrial Training. The university also charges a COMPULSORY registration fee for this, and an additional N1,000 which must be paid separately into a Stanbic IBTC Bank account! Last semester, as in the academic session stated above, this fee was N3,000. At the moment, the University has raised it to N10,000, again, without any viable reason and without any prior notification.

    Thirdly, it is not clear why the university should charge a fee for what it termed ‘Result Verification’. This fee is payable every year and it is charged at N5,000. Despite this fee being paid, students who have attempted to verify the authenticity of the controversial results awarded to them have largely hit a rock. So, if results are not verifiable, how then can the National Open University of Nigeria justify the receipt of this money from students?

    Fourthly, the university gets paid for course materials but it never provides these materials.

    Prices for each material depend on the credit units of the course. At the moment, a two credit unit course material is N2,000, however slim the material may be, whilst a three credit unit course is

    charged at N2,500. Payment for these materials is also COMPULSORY. Now, supposing a student runs 10 courses in a single semester, the minimum payable for course materials alone stands at N20,000. This fee does not include fees for examination registration.

    Students must pay the sum of N1,000 per course if they are to participate in any semester examination. This, for a student running 10 courses, brings the fee to N30,000 for a single semester! And do note that this analysis does not include compulsory fee, which maybe N28,000 or N13,000, depending on the semester. After receiving payment for course materials from students across study centres nationwide, the university may issue one, two, or zero course materials out of a possible 10 as illustrated above.

    Thereupon, the university advises students, without compunction, to get these materials in whatever way they deem fit. At this point, students are solely on their own to hunt for additional money in order to re-purchase these materials elsewhere. The university is unconcerned about what becomes of students who are unable to get materials afterwards. Such is the insensitivity being inflicted on a people whose only offence is their decision to seek knowledge.

    I invite relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of the illicit activities of the National Open University of Nigeria. Those running the university must understand that the objective for setting up the institution was to disseminate knowledge, not as a ploy to take advantage of a student community mainly dominated by those at the lowest level of our economic ladder. That will not be acceptable going forward.

     

    • Abiola Adedeji,

    Lagos

  • Nigeria’ll establish two consulates in Benin Republic, says Buhari  

    Nigeria’ll establish two consulates in Benin Republic, says Buhari  

    NIGERIA is to have two new consulates in Benin Republic, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured.

    He made the promise on Saturday night during a meeting with Nigerians residing in Benin Republic.

    According to the President, provisions will be made for the establishment of the consulates in next year’s budget if it passe through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    He said: “I think I will direct your ambassador to make the request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that by the time we are doing the next budget, it would be included.

    “Although we are trying to cut down on the number of ministries, the morale of Nigerians in the Diaspora must be considered.

    “This is because we are so many. We are aggressive whether in business or other facets of life. So, we, as a government will do everything possible to look after Nigerians wherever they are.”

    Stressing that it was customary of him to meet the representatives of Nigerian community wherever he goes and answer their questions, he said that he has always told Nigerians to respect their host’s culture and laws.

    He noted that there were a number of problems in South Africa which did not portray Nigerians in good light.

    “Some of them are in prison for committing a number of crimes. But for you who are so close home, you should do your best in being good ambassadors of the country,” he said.

    On whether there was any cooperation with Benin Republic towards fighting Boko Haram, he said: “Yes, they have identified with the countries of Lake Chad Commission which comprises of Cameron, Chad and Nigeria. He (Boni Yayi ) made an undertaking of providing a number of troops to join the Task Force troops of the Chad Basin Commission countries to fight the Boko Haram.

    “I will not mention the number of troops because it is a security issue. As you know, Nigeria is expected to make a bigger contribution.

    By yesterday (Friday), we are supposed to take the troops off the ground. So, Benin Republican through the President is participating in fighting Boko Harm.”

    Answering the question on what the Federal Government was doing to facilitate the return of those who may so wish, the President said: “I believe a lot of you are doing well and are better off here. So, the question of facilitating your coming home does not arise.

    “We don’t want you to come back home and be unemployed. Don’t come and add to our problems. If you have something doing here please continue doing it.”

    Towards opening a campus of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Benin Republic, he urged them to pass a formal letter through the ambassador who will write the ministry of education.

    “And I think the possibility of expanding the facility may be examined,” he stated

    On how the government will assist to improve their businesses, he said: “I think what the government can do is through your ambassador. If the embassy sends a report from your representatives, I believe the ministry of commerce and industry will examine it and whichever suggestion they raise, the Federal Government will look at them.

    “The Federal Government here in Nigeria will ensure that people don’t just earn their salaries but that they do exactly what they are paid for,” he said.

  • CJN hails NOUN

    The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has been described as a foremost institution in the provision of quality and comprehensive education in the country.

    Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed made the endorsement at the fourth annual lecture in his honour titled “Law as an instrument of Excellence and integrity”.

    It was organised by the institution’s School of Law in Abuja.

    The CJN added that NOUN which was resuscitated in 2001 by the Obasanjo administration was designed to provide unrestricted tertiary education to Nigerians.

    His said, “I know it is a fact that the National Open University of Nigeria was initially established on the 22/July/1983 as a medium for open and distance learning in Nigeria. Although it was suspended by the government on the 25/April/1984, it was resuscitated on the 12/April/2001 by the former President of the federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR with the sole mission to provide qualitative affordable distance learning.

    “The success story (of NOUN) lies in testimonies of its astuteness, past and present. Indeed for our dear citizens, the university is now an indispensable tool for achieving educational empowerment.”

    The chief Justice of the federation also added that NOUN being the biggest institution in the country with its unique mode of education delivery, is providing unrestricted access to educate prisoners, artisans, house wives and other underprivileged Nigerians.

    He said: “With over 408,000 students, it is Nigeria’s largest single tertiary institution offering over 50 programmes and 507 courses. It is indeed laudable, from prisoners to full time artisans, and even house wives in Nigeria, NOUN unique model now allows all to simply combine their daily work and routine with flexible school schedule”.

    Mohammed further stated that this year’s lecture provided a special avenue to bridge the divide in other to dialogue on issues that binds us all.

    “This event has provided a veritable forum for us to bridge the divide, boarders, language and geography in order to dialogue on issues which commonly bind us all. This further relates me to the fact that the role of NOUN is crucial to the fulfilment of improved education for all persons in Nigeria irrespective of our desired background”.

    The Vice Chancellor National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe said: “The NOUN school of law was one of the units approved by the federal ministry of education through the National universities commission (NUC) in 2003. Thereafter we produced the detailed program proposal in line with the NUC BMAS. This is what other universities use all over Nigeria. Our students receive lectures and we have first-class course materials prepared by seasoned academics and professionals in law and legal studies.”

  • CJN gives NOUN pass mark on education

    CJN gives NOUN pass mark on education

    The Chief Judge, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has described the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as a centre for the provision of quality and comprehensive education for Nigerians.

    Speaking at the fourth annual lecture organised in his honour, Mohammed commended the institution for providing quality education for all categories of Nigerians.

    The CJN added that NOUN, which was resuscitated in 2001 by the Obasanjo’s administration, was designed to provide unrestricted tertiary education.

    He said: “The success story (of NOUN) lies in testimonies of its astuteness, past and present. Indeed for our dear citizens, the university is now an indispensable tool for achieving educational empowerment.”

    Mohammed said NOUN being the biggest institution in the country with its unique mode of education delivery is providing unrestricted access to educate prisoners, artisans, house wives and other underprivileged Nigerians.

    “With over 408,000 students, it is Nigeria’s largest single tertiary institution offering over 50 programmes and 507 courses.

    “It is indeed laudable, from prisoners to full time artisans and even house wives in Nigeria, NOUN unique model allows all to simply combine their daily work and routine with flexible school schedule.”

    The Vice Chancellor National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Vincent Tenebe said: “The NOUN school of law was one of the units approved by the federal ministry of education through the National universities commission (NUC) in 2003.

    “Thereafter we produced the detailed program proposal online with the NUC BMAS. This is what other universities use all over Nigeria.

    “Our students receive lectures and we have first class course materials prepared by seasoned academics and professionals in law and legal studies.”

  • NOUN, IPMA sign MoU

    NOUN, IPMA sign MoU

    As part of efforts at equipping its graduates with Advanced Professional Management Skills that will make them globally competitive, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Professional Managers Association (IPMA) of  United Kingdom (UK).

    Among the benefits of the collaboration to NOUN students are mapping and integration of NOUN academic and IPMA-UK professional programmes to give NOUN management and management-related students accelerated career advancement by graduating with their degree and IPMA-UK.

    The collaboration will also provide NOUN students the unique opportunity of accessing the renowned IPMA-UK electronic library to enhance their study and research.

    IPMA-UK is a United Kingdom based international examining, licensing and regulatory membership qualifying body that provides management and management-related students and workers with the opportunity to be part of the process of improving administrative and managerial performance and effectiveness in all areas of business, industry and public administration around the world.

    IPMA is a member of the National Academic Recognition Information Centre of the United Kingdom (UK-NARIC) and recognised in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Education.

  • NOUN’s illegality

    NOUN’s illegality

    The Open University should not pursue its unaccredited law programme

    The advertisement by the Council of Legal Education that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is running a law programme despite a clear warning against that is disturbing. This is because the council is statutorily empowered to regulate legal education in the country. Indeed, without an approval from it, any law programme that any institution offers in the country, amounts to a waste of human and material resources. This is evidently so, as such “law graduates” would not be allowed access to the Nigeria Law School. So, if NOUN fails to stop the law programme immediately, the law enforcement agencies should stop it, and prosecute those responsible.

    We are curious that NOUN would engage in what is clearly a rip-off of those who engage in their law programmes across their various study centres. From some media reports, it is obvious that many of their students are not aware of this limitation to the “law degree” obtained from the university. We recall the excitement shown by some of their “law graduates” expressing gratitude to God for the opportunity granted them to study law at their advanced ages. One of such persons from NOUN, Akure centre, a 69-year-old woman, was full of thanksgiving, and expressed hope that she would use her new talent to help widows and other less privileged persons in her community.

    Her seminal boast, envisaged an access to the Nigeria Law School, which would enable her practise as a barrister. Another, a 60-year-old woman who graduated from the Benin Study Centre, was excited that she had been able to join her other family members in the legal profession, and again was hopeful that after attending the law school, she would devote her skills to help the less privileged in the society. Considering that she and her other colleagues would not be admitted to the Nigeria Law School, her hopes will remain a mirage, unless the Council of Legal Education retroactively approves their training at NOUN.

    This infraction by NOUN is a common experience across the country. Not long ago, the federal authorities were up in arms against criminal elements who offered non-existent university programmes to Nigerian youths. Those dubious elements even ran programmes in decrepit environments, and all the while, were fleecing their victims and their sponsors of several thousands of Naira in the name of fees. As was the case of the NOUN victims, many of them thought they were in approved institutions, and had wasted a number of years in the so- called faculties of higher learning.

    These shady characters sometimes appear to have the latent support of regulatory organs of government, as they parade provisional approval of programmes to start the fraud. Whatever may be the enablers, we urge that it is bad enough that opportunities for higher education are abysmally limited; but it would be disheartening and scandalous that valuable years and resources are wasted pursuing a non-existent programme in a higher institution. It becomes totally unacceptable and an institutional crime, when otherwise accredited institutions also run un-accredited courses side by side the approved ones.

    While calling on NOUN to stop the law programme, we urge students to also help themselves. As part of the pursuit of academic glory, a potential student owes it a duty to himself/herself to be sure, that the programmes they want to apply for, are among those approved. It is embarrassing that a budding graduate would have failed a basic enquiry, concerning the programme or the institution he/she intends to apply to. We urge all concerned to stop NOUN’s law programme and similar frauds, to save Nigerians a national embarrassment.

  • Prison inmate bags second class upper degree from NOUN

    Prison inmate bags second class upper degree from NOUN

    prison inmate, Theophilus Adenyi, has received a second class upper degree in peace studies and conflict resolution from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

    Adenyi, an awaiting trial inmate and pioneer student of NOUN at its Enugu Prison study centre, was yesterday presented the certificate by the Controller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Dr Peter Ekpendu, at the first convocation of the centre.

    The graduate said that he was elated to have completed his university education in spite of obvious challenges.

    “I promise that I shall at all times uphold the legacies of NOUN and also be a good ambassador.

    “Just few months to my final degree examination in ESUT, I was set up and roped into the matter that I am currently facing trial for, but today I thank God I am a graduate,” Adeniyi said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adenyi, who was one of the 54 students in the centre, bagged three awards from NOUN, including N50,000 cash award as the best student.

    Ekpendu commended Adenyi for making the NPS proud and promised to continue to encourage inmates to reach their potentials in whatever trade they chose.

    “I heard a number of you registered for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. We shall do our best to ensure that you are comfortable to the best of our ability,” he said.

    He said the intensity of academic activities by the inmates was a clear testimony that the future of the country was bright.

    In a citation, the Deputy Controller of Prisons, Enugu State Command, Mr Felix Lawrence, said that the graduand made a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.36.

    Lawrence said that Adenyi was a final year political science student at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) when he was arrested and charged to court over a communal crisis.

    The Coordinator of the study centre, Prof. Ladan Babankodong, extolled Adenyi’s virtues.

     

     

     

    , saying that he was a shining example.

     

  • Three prisoners graduate at NOUN

    The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) will award degrees and diplomas to 7,000 graduates, including three prisoners,  at its fourth convocation  tomorrow, its Vice- Chancellor (VC) Prof Vincent Tenebe said yesterday.

    At a media briefing in Lagos, he said two of the graduating prisoners were from Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Lagos; the other is from Enugu Prisons.

    He explained that the institution,he said, extended education to the prisons because it was a critical tool in the reformation process.

    Tenebe said the prisoners were Nigerians, adding that it is proper to extend  education to them to enable them lead better lives.

    “We are happy that we are playing our role as an institution in the area of giving quality education to Nigerians, no matter the barriers. It is a way of empowering them and making them to realise that good things can really come out from them, and that they can contribute their quota to national development.

    “Before certifying them fit to hold our certificates, we found out that they are now found worthy not only in learning but also in character, and that given necessary support, they too can contribute to national development and growth,’’ he said.

    The VC said the institution would continue to urge the Federal Government to grant amnesty to prisoners, who had successfully completed their programmes.

    “The only thing we can do for now is to continue to appeal to the government to grant amnesty to this category of people, because we feel they must have realised the benefits of freedom. Be that as it may, with the education they have acquired so far, any time they regain their freedom, they will be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria,’’ he said.

    The university, Tenebe said, would continue to work hard to ensure that  its programmes were sustained.

    He lauded the government for ensuring that the institution got the  support needed to operate efficiently.

    Tenebe appealed for increased funding of the institution, noting that its Law graduates were disallowed from attending the Law School because the school is run as part-time.

    He rated the school as one of the best in the country, saying its programmes were not run on part-time basis.

    Tenebe said the immediate past Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and Dr Stella Adadevoh, who died while tackling the Ebola Virus Disease, would be honoured at thye convocation.

  • Study centre for FRSC at NOUN

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has secured approval for a study centre from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for training its officers.

    The centre was approved when the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Boboye Oyeyemi visited NOUN’s national headquarters in Abuja.

    NOUN’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe said creating a study centre for the Corps as a value-adding move would positively impact on its service delivery, especially coming at a time that the university has established a department of Transportation.

    The university, he said, enjoys similar partnerships with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) among others.

    On his part, Oyeyemi said the partnership would open a new vista of opportunities for FRSC personnel to improve on their academic profile in the course of duty, and provide the corps with additional platforms for capacity building aside from its Academy and Training School in Enugu and Mubi.

    This arrangement, according to him, would enable the Corps extend its personnel’s capacity building in specialised areas such as Transport Management, traffic engineering and policing.

    Oyeyemi also praised Prof Tenebe for rendering selfless service to the country as the chairman, National Committee on States’ rating on road crashes.