By Martin Paul
Abuja
National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), establishment Bill to reposition the institution, for greater performance, has scaled the second reading at the Senate for amendment.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North), who sponsored the Bill, said NOUN’s mandates were meant to be information and technology-driven, but the reverse was the case in terms of its products, emphasising that there should be no discrimination of their products for any reason.
Barau maintained that objectives of the Open University should be crafted in a manner that it enhances educational efficiency which confers impeccable status on the institution.
“Mr. Senate President, distinguished colleagues, section 1(3) of NOUN Act which deals with objectives should be amended for efficiency of the institution,” he noted.
According to him, Open University system across the world remains the best option for educating people, stressing that Nigeria cannot be left behind.
Supporting the motion, Senator Ajayi Borofice (APC), Ondo North Senatorial district noted that the world has shifted towards tele-education, saying the nation needed to strengthen laws that should ensure quality education.
In his remark, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki expressed commitment of the 8th Senate to ensure that NOUN operated without inhibitions.
With this development, relief may be coming the way of graduates of Faculty of Law at NOUN who have not been admitted into Law school.
Barau confirmed that the Bill, when amended, would solve the institution’s face-off with Council for Legal Education over non-admission of students into law school.
