President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, directed the inclusion of graduates of the National Open University in the National Youth Service Corps.
He directed the Federal Ministry of Education to formulate the necessary modalities to enforce the directive.
This is according to a statement published on the NOUN website which was sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday in Abuja.
“With the changing demographics of our great nation, the government has recognised the importance of allowing NOUN graduates to participate in the NYSC scheme,” he said.
According to the statement, the President, represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission Dr. Biodun Saliu, made the declaration during the recent convocation ceremony of NOUN,
He said, “The doors of the Law School are now open to the graduates, ensuring equal opportunities for all. Any remaining concerns or uncertainties should be promptly addressed by the Federal Ministry of Education.”
The President said the gathering signified not only the academic achievement of the graduates but also underscored the pivotal role Open and Distance Education plays in the nation’s educational landscape.
Tinubu said his administration would continue to promote Open and Distance Learning to improve access to higher education in the country, stressing that the deployment of the ODL is a key to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
“We will continue to do this in order to improve quality, access and affordability.
“The government is, therefore, committed through the Federal Ministry of Education and the NUC to provide the enabling environment to ensure a good delivery of this mode of education in Nigeria,” Tinubu added.
While expressing his enthusiasm with the fact that the university, which was initially conceived as a means of providing education for the working class, has evolved through persistence and focus, and has now emerged to be providing education access for the teeming youth population.
The President stated that he was not unaware that a large number of school leavers were unable to secure admissions into conventional universities, as a result, there was a need for research efforts in technology to be enhanced for NOUN to increase its admission of young school leavers, and enhance improved social safety nets for the people.
Tinubu said he was elated that NOUN had become the main pivot driving the government’s resolve in the attainment of those learning deliverables through ICT.
He encouraged NOUN to admit qualified government functionaries into postgraduate programmes offered by the Centre of Excellence, as government is embarking on a transformative journey with the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI), in all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, to enhance decision-making processes and efficiency in government operations.
Tinubu also tasked the World Bank-sponsored Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning, hosted by NOUN, to engage in research outcomes that will enhance the use of ICT tools for improved learning in Nigeria.