NOUN charges scholars on African image challenges

Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof.
Abdalla Ahmed Adamu, has charged African scholars to find solutions to challenges militating against the growth of the continent.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the First International Conference of Social Sciences, organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences of the university, Adamu said African scholars needed to “come together to research on issues affecting the continent.” He said the conference with the theme: “Imaged or Imagined: Africa and the Contemporary World: Issues in security, Governance and Sustainable Development”, was apt at this time insecurity was ravaging African countries. “The theme of the conference, as I understand, that interrogates the claims that Africa is incapable of sustaining human flourishing.
It is the topic that summons us to keep thinking and demands practical solutions in the existential problems of the continent.” While commending participants at the conference, the vice-chancellor said NOUN had become the largest and biggest in Africa, stressing that over 16, 000 students were matriculated at the weekend to join the stream of already existing 420,000 students.
While addressing the matriculated students, Adamu said the majority of the students were combining academic with work, there was the need for them to demonstrate the required maturity needed to pull through studies and work.
The Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr.
Ganiya Adesina Uthman, in her welcome address, said the conference would chart a new course at the international level.
Keynote speaker, Professor Horace Campbell, who spoke through Skype on the topic: Saving Lake Chad and the Rejuvenation of Africa: Beyond the Imaginary,” said insecurity was impairing the rejuvenation of African continent.