President Bola Tinubu has charged tertiary institutions to follow the guidelines for good governance and proper financial management development by the Federal Government following their removal from the Integrated Personnel Payment System (IPPIS).
The Federal Executive Council approved the removal of Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education from IPPIS last December.
The President said following the approval to take tertiary institutions off the payment platform, the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, developed guidelines for tertiary institutions in the country to ensure good governance and proper financial management.
Tinubu said this at the 13 convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and investiture of the new Chancellor of NOUN, Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku’ Akpolokpolo Ewuare II on Saturday in Abuja.
A total of 22,175 were awarded various degree certificates.
Six students graduated with Doctor of Philosophy certificates (PhDs).
Of the 22, 175 students, the university awarded 22 students with First Class degrees.
Two eminent Nigerians: Founder of Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma and Hajia Hafsatu Abdulwaheed, were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees.
Chukwuma received a Doctor of Business Administration degree for his enterprise and massive contribution to local content while Hafsatu was awarded a Doctor of Letters for promoting girl – child education and using literacy to break the cycle of poverty.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Academics at the National Universities Commission, Joel Saliu said: “Following this approval, the Federal Ministry of Education and its relevant stakeholders developed the guidelines for good governance and proper financial management which the Federal Executive Council approved on the 26 of January 2024.
“Having circulated the circulars or the guidelines, all tertiary education institutions are enjoined to ensure full implementation to guarantee that good governance and proper financial management are enshrined in our institutions of higher learning.”
Tinubu said his administration would continue to promote open and distance learning (ODL) approaches.
He added that this was why the ODL has been opened up to accommodate the private sector.
The president said: “This administration will continue to promote open and distance learning approach as one of the strategies to improve access to education.
“To this end, four private open universities were granted licenses to operate along with NOUN. This is a demonstration of the commitment of the Federal Government to the vision of integrating technology into tertiary education delivery in order to improve quality, access and affordability.
“Government is therefore committed to working with these universities through the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission to provide the enabling environment to ensure a seamless delivery of this mode of education in Nigeria.
“We must therefore give priority attention to the provision of appropriate facilities and continuous capacity building of our human resources that will engender the needed confidence of stakeholders in our graduates.”
The Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof Olufemi Peters said the university has grown from 1,230 students in 2003, to 170,000 active students in 2024 while the study centres expanded nationwide from 17 in 2003 to over 120 study centres, including those within correctional facilities across the country.
He stated: “While the University started with a student population consisting of mostly working class and predominantly aged 30 years and above, the trend has changed over time with the demographic composition of our student population shifting towards a younger population.
“For those of you who have earned your first or second degrees, I encourage you to consider pursuing further education after taking a brief break. The University is open to all individuals for the actualisation of their academic aspirations.”
The Oba of Benin said he would use his position to enhance the university.
The first class monarch said: “As I step into the role of Chancellor, I am acutely aware of the weight of responsibility that accompanies it. My vision for the National Open University of Nigeria is one of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. It is my fervent aspiration to leverage my position as a traditional ruler to enhance the fortunes of this esteemed institution.
“Without any gainsaying, NOUN holds a unique position as a beacon of hope and opportunity in the realm of Open and Distance e-learning mode of instructional delivery. We will do our best to ensure that this University remains not only a pioneer in Nigeria but also a shining example across the entirety of the Sub-Saharan Africa. As we all know, education knows no boundaries, and I am committed to giving an environment where knowledge transcends borders and transforms lives.
“Together, we will embark on a journey of advancement and progress, guided by principles of integrity, scholarship, and service. I challenge us all to let us work tirelessly to uphold the values upon which this University was founded, and to chart a course towards an even brighter future.”
