•15 graduate with first class
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) yesterday awarded a Master degree in Christian Theology to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Obasanjo was among the 10, 653 students who bagged degrees in various academic fields at the 5th convocation ceremony of the institution held in Abuja yesterday.
Obasanjo with Matriculation no NOU 146058901 bagged a pass in Christian Theology with a GPA of 4.25 from the Abeokuta centre of the institution.
The former president is expected to continue his PhD degree at the institution.
Udo Ukeme Effiong, from the Apapa centre, Lagos, emerged the best graduating student of the institution with a GPA of 4.71 in environmental sciences and resource management.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in his address, said education remained the most important sector that defines the life, values, political culture and economic power of a nation.
Buhari noted that recent events in the oil and gas sector had demonstrated the nation’s economy would not survive mainly on oil and gas sector.
The president said that Nigeria must diversify its economy into other sector like agriculture and mining to survive.
“The success of such diversification of the economy will depend on the application of the benefits accruing from the development of human capital through education.
“Education is the bedrock for the development of any nation. In democratic societies, universal access to education is a priority and tertiary education is seen as a fundamental responsibility of the state.
“Nigeria as a nation acknowledges this responsibility and will spare no effort at delivering quality education to its citizens,” he said.
Buhari, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, said that government had through NOUN tried to deal with the additional calls for an opportunity for lifelong learning and for those unable to engage in a regular full time formal education.
The president added that enhancement of access to tertiary education remained a focal point of his administration.
“Consequently, one of the consistent focal point of government for the development of the education sector is the expansion of access to tertiary education.”
NOUN’s VC, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, said new programmes had already been added to the institution.
He maintained that the university would continue to strengthen its existing academic programmes.
The NOUN VC promised to bring positive revolutionary changes in tertiary education.