The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, says that the welfare and satisfaction of the  students of the institution are of utmost priority to his administration.

Peters stated this in Abuja on Saturday during the 21st matriculation of the students held virtually across the 103 study centres of the university in the country in compliance with the COVID-19 protocol.

A statement signed by Ibrahim Sheme, Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, stated that 14,953 fresh students were formally admitted  for the university’s 2020/2021 second semester session.

The vice-chancellor in his speech told the new students: “It is my delight and responsibility to assure you that I, indeed the entire management and NOUN community, am committed to making your stay in NOUN seamless, peaceful and safe.

“Your welfare and satisfaction are paramount to us. Our study centres are being renovated and modified for effective and ever improved service delivery,” he said.

Peters added, “Our course materials development, information request, service delivery and examination administration processes are continuously being reviewed to advance your learning experience.

“Our e-library facilities are replicated in all  our study centres and will be further enhanced.”

The vice-chancellor, upon assumption of office on Feb. 11, 2021, had assured the students  that their welfare and satisfaction were top on his agenda, describing them as the university’s primary PR.

According to him, the mandate of NOUN is to ensure that students get the best in terms of online facilitation, portal access for information, learning content delivery, Computer-Based Text (CBT) examinations and assessments in any location of choice among the study centres in the country.

“We will endeavour to provide you excellent opportunities to learning; an atmosphere of mutual respect, justice and quality service delivery.

“We are determined to make your learning rewarding and satisfactory,” Peters added.

He explained that the challenges of COVID-19 had moved NOUN further and faster, as the learning systems were being upgraded continuously with the state of the art methodologies and innovations in the use of information and communications technology.

The V-C disclosed that registration had been simplified further, with a ticketing system developed to attend to students’ requests  and  complaints.

Peters urged the new students to be resolute whenever  challenges arise, saying  that they are part of life; even in learning.

He noted that the institution would strive for perfection in the deployment of cutting-edge technologies for learning and service delivery.

“Please, seek assistance promptly and demand our attention in a friendly and cooperative manner and maintain a positive attitude.”

Peters  urged the students to desist from anything that would make them become a disgrace to the NOUN family, while challenging them to be the generation that would restore Africa’s honour and change the continent.

The Registrar of the university, Mr Felix Edoka, administered the matriculation oath to the students.

NOUN is the only single-mode Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution in Nigeria, with about 500, 000 students, and easily the largest university in terms of enrollment in the West African sub-region. (NAN)