• Renowned educationist lauds the move as a people-focused initiative
• NOUN needs at least 500 students to kick off a centre in the city
• Gives timeline for concluding facility upgrade
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, Administration of National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, Prof. Isaac Butswat, has said that at least, five hundred students must be registered and the physical infrastructure approved for a study centre in Warri.
Prof. Butswat, gave the condition Friday August 9, when he led a delegation of NOUN Officials to Warri South Local Government Council in Warri, Delta State, on invitation of Comr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, the Council Chairman.
Excited by the development, an educationist, Dr. Godson Onyema applauded the move, saying, “the development is a sign of more good things to come to the council area”, and added that citing a centre of the renowned NOUN in Warri is long overdue.
“The new council chairman, Comrade Isaac Agbateyiniro has taken the right step in the right direction by prioritizing education.
“This shows that he is a lover of education and that he has a clear view of what good governance is all about.
“I give kudos to this young man and pray that in his tenure, he should remain focused with people-oriented programmes such as the NOUN initiative”, he further said.
The DVC Administration, who led the team on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi A. Peters, said the requirement for the number of students may not be as easy as it appears, because the Warri South Local Government Boss, “might have to help your (his) people with school fees, scholarships, grants etc.”
Whilst expressing happiness with Comr. Agbateyiniro’s interest in actualizing the takeoff of NOUN study centre at Esisi Road, Warri, Prof. Butswat, who later followed Comr. Agbateyiniro, to the facility of the proposed Warri study centre, noted: “We are here because the honourable chairman is very interested in expanding access to education in Warri South Local Government.
“Our VC is one that has the passion for open and decent learning and also a very cooperative person.
“It is with his approval that I am leading this delegation, to first of all come and inspect this facility that you have, for us to now deliberate on the qualifications of the facility for a befitting community study centre. Very recently, we have modified the requirements for the establishment of the community centres. We have made it more community friendly.
“We have different types of study centres. The main study centres are in the state capitals, mostly former party offices donated to us by Former Preident Olusegun Obasanjo. We have Community Study Centres, for communities that meet the requirements, and also Special Study Centres, usually established in Correctional Centres (Prisons). Yours, falls under community study centre.”
Speaking to newsmen after inspecting the proposed Warri Study Centre of NOUN, Prof. Butswat, stated: “I can say that it is a good effort. There are a few more things to put in place, principally the furniture.”
While the Registrar of NOUN, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, said: “All the observations made today will be formalized and forwarded so that improvements can be made,” the Acting Director, Learner and Support Services of NOUN, Dr. Sefinat Omuya, averred: “I’m glad to be in a place where I can see passion for the development of the people around here. Personally, I feel Warri deserves a study centre and we all can join hands together to make it happen.”
The Director, Physical Development, Works and Services of the institution, Arc. Enyinnaya Akueshi, expressed his observation thus: “We are happy that the facility meets some of our requirements. The facility is fenced. Provisions for other needs, should be made to accommodate the students and the staff.”
The Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Comr. Weyinmi Isaac Agbateyiniro, who also addressed newsmen at the proposed Study centre, declared: “This facility has been here for nearly a decade. Considering the fact that Warri is the economic nerve centre of the state (Delta) and we do not have a university in the city, we want to appeal that after this inspection, you speedily put relevant machinery in place, to grant us this privilege of a study centre of NOUN in Warri.
“We have taken commitment that all the observations made by the team, will be addressed and concluded within 30 days.”
Chairman of the Steering Committee of Warri Study Centre of National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, Mr. Omayeli Okotie, who conducted the Warri South and NOUN delegations round the facility, disclosed that the member representing Warri Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and the Warri South Chief Executive, Comr. Agbateyiniro, have made huge sacrifices toward the actualization of NOUN Warri Study Centre.