'NOUN is Not Inferior to Non-Open Universities, It Has Come to Stay' Says Obasanjo 

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized the significance and academic credibility of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), insisting that the institution is not inferior to traditional universities in the country and has therefore, come to stay.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that Obasanjo made this position known on Monday while receiving a delegation from NOUN, who paid him a courtesy visit and made an alumni award presentation to him at his residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

Making a reference to his academic experience as an alumnus of the university, Obasanjo recalled that he had to battle with age-long discrimination against the university when he wanted to pursue his postgraduate studies there back then.

He recalled that, "Some people rose up saying an open university is inferior to non-open universities, but I was not discouraged," adding that, “I said, let me go there and have a taste of what they’re saying is inferior. Then I came in, I saw, and I conquered.”

The former president, digging into the history of university education in the country, observed that the country initially operated with only the University of Ibadan for about a decade, followed by the establishment of second-generation federal and state universities, and eventually private universities.

He noted that regardless of the expansion in the Tertiary education sub-sector, the National Open University of Nigeria actually came to bridge the gap that existed in the provision of higher education to a large chunk of the broader population.

"Despite the availability of universities, we were still not coping; the gaps kept getting wider. That was why I said the Open University is a necessity it created more avenues and made it convenient for working-class citizens,” he added.

Bearing a personal testimony to the quality of academic mentoring provided in the institution, Obasanjo discloaed that his own doctorate programme was supervised by two eminent scholars who had also mentored numerous other students.

If they supervised me successfully, then my PhD wouldn’t be inferior. So, if mine isn’t inferior and those before me are not inferior, National Open University has come to stay,” he declared.

Commenting on the consistent growth of the University, he remarked that , "At some point, we were more than half a million students, and we are still growing.”

The former president therefore assured the visiting officials of his continued support for the institution.

Speaking earlier during the courtesy visit, the Director of the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages (DAL) at NOUN, Prof. Ganiyat Adesina-Uthman, described the university as a transformative force not only in Nigeria but across Africa.

"NOUN is not just a federal university, but one of its kind in Africa and the largest on the continent,” she said, adding that the university was established to help Nigeria meet global standards in human capital development and also support neighboring African countries in achieving sustainable, knowledge-based economies.

She therefore pleaded with Chief Obasanjo to assist with scholarships for students enrolled in flagship programmes and outlined key infrastructural needs of the university.

In her words, "We need scholarships for some of our flagship programmes, including Entrepreneurship Studies, Criminology and Security Studies, Mass Communication, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, and support for Indigenous Students."

“We also want our Advancement and Linkages building named after the donor; a University Hospital; a 50-room guest house; a 1,000-capacity auditorium, and support for our host communities such as customized textbooks and uniforms, clean water, and toilet facilities.”