NOUN to graduates 28, 740 students
By Peter Usman://
The National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN has disclosed that it will award degrees to a total of 28, 740 students at its 12th convocation ceremony scheduled to hold on Saturday 25 March, 2023.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olufemi Peters, who made the disclosure on Tuesday at a pre-convocation news conference in Abuja, said 58 inmates will be graduating as well alondside others, adding that two out of the 58 inmates are postgraduate students, while the remaining 56 would be awarded Bachelor’s degrees in various fields.
He asserted that the graduating inmates were given the opportunity to study at various Nigeria Correctional Service Study Centres spread across the country under scholarships provided by NOUN, as part of the University’s Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR.
Explaining futher, Prof. Peters noted that 6 students graduated with first class, 2306 came out with second class upper division. 11, 075 with second class lower; 5,558 with third class and 279 graduating with pass.
He said over 10,000 graduates comprising of all students that made first class and postgraduate students are expected to be present at NOUN convocation ground in Abuja, while others at various centres connect from wherever they are across the country.
He disclosed that NOUN currently has 131,000 active students and a total enrollment of 250,000 students, adding that the NOUN has justified the purpose for which it was established.
According to him, “The institution was established because the conventional Universities could not absorb all candidates who were qualified to be admitted into traditional face-to-face institutions.”
On whether NYSC will be accommodate the graduating students; he explained that NOUN has approached the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC with a new proposal on how to accommodate the interest of thousands of its graduates who desire to participate in the one year NYSC.
“Can you imagine the pressure we would put on NYSC if we should enlist the over 28, 000 students that would be graduating. That would be massive responsibilities. So, we have approached the management of NYSC with our intention to make adjustments” he said.
Prof. Peters told journalists that the convocation lecture would hold on Friday with the topic: Volatilities and Opportunities in Higher Education” to be delivered by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa, UNISA, Professor Puleng LenkaBula.
The Vice Chancellor said, “Prof. LenkaBula is the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa which is ranked as the oldest Distance Learning University in Africa. UNISA will mark its 150 years of existence this year.”