President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the heads of the education agencies to remain steadfast in upholding government resolutions to safeguard the education sector, warning that the integrity of the academic system must not be compromised.
The President said National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) the National Universities Commission, (NUC) the National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges Education (NCCE ) were working in alignment to improve the quality of education and ensure that cases of fraudulent and unrepresentative institutions, both within and outside the country, have no place in the education ecosystem.
This is even as he asked the management of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the transition of the university into a full online university in light of its expertise and mastery of open and distance learning.
Tinubu who spoke as the Visitor at the 14th convocation ceremony of the University in Abuja on Saturday said there is need for the university to take its delivery system to the fullest potential by embracing technology holistically.
The Visitor, represented by Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Rakiya Gambo, said the transition requires NOUN to fully leverage cutting-edge digital tools to ensure accessibility, flexibility, and the overall quality of education.
“I want to assure you that this administration will provide full support for the project, ensuring that necessary policies, infrastructure, and resources are in place to facilitate a seamless and sustainable transition,” he said.
“I urge the leadership of the University to, as a matter of urgency, develop a comprehensive roadmap for the transition, outlining key phases, infrastructural needs, and expected timelines, strengthening the learning content management system, and integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality for interactive learning experiences.
“It is to the credit of the qualitative education provided by NOUN that the federal government was encouraged to licence five new private open universities in Nigeria,” he said.
Earliet, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Peters Olufemi, said the varsity has continued to distinguish itself through its unique convocation ceremonies, which were a reflection of its innovative approach to education.
“This seamless coordination underscores the university’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. This 14th Convocation ceremony is another opportunity for NOUN to celebrate the academic achievements of its students. ”
He said a total of 17,420 students graduated comprising 10,967 undergraduates and 6,413 postgraduate students.
He further said at the undergraduate level, a total of 16 graduated with a first-class; 1,417 with second class (upper division); 5,5 18 with second class (lower division) 2,761 with third class and 138 with pass degrees respectively.
Adding that 2,103 will be awarded postgraduate diplomas, with 4,310 Master’s degrees and 40 Doctorate degrees.