The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has been installed as the Chancellor of the 42-year-old, National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, by the Federal Government.
DAILY POST reports that the Benin monarch was decorated at the 13th Convocation and Investiture Ceremony of the university on Saturday in Abuja by the visitor of the institution President Bola Tinubu, where a total of 22,175 graduates bagged various degrees and merit awards.
President Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu, urged the Benin monarch to improve the fortunes of the university towards achieving the core mandate of the 42-year-old institution.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, made available to journalists in Benin City, said the royal father was also conferred with Honoris Causa, Doctor in Public Administration, of the university.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Ewuare II called on the Federal Government to consider robust funding for the university.
The monarch, also called on the government to be cautious about establishing universities with dual roles in ensuring that standards are upheld.
While promising to carry out his responsibility diligently, the new chancellor of the university appealed to the government to include NOUN graduates in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC scheme by amending the act that established the institution.
The traditional ruler commended the university’s management for its commitment to service, which served as an inspiration to the university, where a total of 22,175 graduates bagged various degrees and merit awards.
Earlier, in his address, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Olufemi Peters, said the convocation marked a milestone for graduands at the event, which he said heralds a new era for those who seek knowledge regardless of their academic background.
In his address, President Bola Tinubu sued for cutting-edge multidisciplinary research that would benefit Nigerian citizens and Nigeria.
Tinubu assured that the Federal Government would continue to promote distance learning, noting that distance learning has been widened by the government to accommodate private sector involvement to create access and promote quality and affordability in the mode of tertiary education.