The alumni association of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN has embarked on a 10-day advocacy to sensitize the public particularly youths on the need to embrace education as a means to counter the high rate of insecurity in the country in the recent time.
In a statement by the National President of NOUN Alumni Association (NOUNAA), Muntaka Abdul-Hadi Dabo during the launching of the education advocacy programme at NOUN headquarters in Jabi, Abuja on 24th September, the association said the ugly security situations in the country have made it inevitable for everyone to team up towards finding a lasting solution to the predicaments, thus the initiative by the association.
Mr. Dabo emphasized that the security challenges in many parts of the country presently are aftermaths of oversights on education in the country stressing that without sustained reassurance to the youths to embrace education, hardships will always push them into crimes for survival. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his resolve to increase Education budget by 50% in two years and by 100% in 2025.
Recall Buhari made the pledge in August at the Global Education Summit in London, United Kingdom.
The Nigerian leader stated: “We commit to progressively increase our annual domestic education expenditure by 50 per cent over the next two years and up to 100% by 2025 beyond the 20 per cent global benchmark.”
At the inaugural chat for the advocacy programme with NOUN Deputy Director, Advancement & Linkages, Mr. Olufemi Gbenga, the alumni body said the group is overwhelmingly inspired by the supports of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters since assumption of office culminating to robust initiatives.
“We commend the Vice Chancellor over his dogged spirit to take the institution to next level particularly broad-mindedness and cooperation with relevant stakeholders including the alumni group” Mr Dabo stated.
The advocacy programme, the group said, is to sensitize the public particularly youths on the various academic programmes offered by NOUN through Open and Distance Learning which they said have impacted positively on them since graduated from NOUN. The National President said that many of them have secured good jobs in reputable organisations while others in self-employment record significant progress in their respective careers.
After the meeting, the group moved into action by visiting many public centres and markets with souvenirs and stickers, interacting and urging the public to embrace the great opportunity federal government offered through NOUN which enables students to study at their pace on the same academic curriculum provided by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for all tertiary institutions in the country.
The advocacy programme was also extended to state chapters of the association with assurance to make it a continuous drive stressing that education remains the bedrock of any society.
