NOUN: Students to Hold National Conference

The Independent Students' body known as Congress of NOUN Students (CONS) of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has set to hold National Conference towards actualization of NYSC and Law School, as well as other critical issues in the University.
This was made known at the meeting held by the Representatives of all departments in Ilorin Study Centre on Wednesday.

However, not less than 34 Study Centres will be participating in the congress in Lagos.

The Departmental Presidents present at the meeting includes MACOSA President, Law President, PESCOSA President, ICTSAN President and so on.




Abdulsalam Ibrahim
        (Lahdan)
       Reporting

The Impact of the Press cannot be Overemphasized-- MACOSA Ambassador
The MACOSA Ambassador, Alhaji Abdulrasaq Laro Yusuf has disclosed that the impact of the Press cannot be overemphasized.
He dropped the hint at the MACOSA Executives meeting held at NUJ Press Centre on Saturday.
Abdulrasaq, who is also the Station Manager, Kwara State Television (KWTV), Lafiagi, told the MACOSA Executives that they can make a change at the top and also correct the mistakes made by the management of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
He, however, advised the executives to make a courtesy call to Lagos Centre to let the Vice-Chancellor feel the problem the students are facing.
In his comments, Ambassador Raphael Ogbonnaiye, also enjoined the MACOSA to find a way of penetrating into the midst of students from other Study Centres and wake them from their slumber.
Kudos were also given to the Executives for keeping the students together under one umbrella.









Abdulsalam Ibrahim
         (Lahdan)
         Reporting

MACOSA: News Room Officially Approved, President Sets to Purchase Equipments.
The proposed News Room and Studio of the Mass Communication Students' Association (MACOSA) has finally been approved by the Centre Director, Mr. Michael Abikoye.
This was made known by the President of the department, Hon. Daniel Ayantoye at the Executive Retreat Meeting held at the NUJ press Centre on Saturday.
"The Centre Director has officially approved the office for our News Room and the Studio." He reiterated.
The President has, however, set to make a journey to Lagos for the purchase of necessary equipments to the News Room and the Studio on Friday 22nd May.
Nevertheless, the MACOSITES wished him safe journey.








Abdulsalam Ibrahim
       (Lahdan)
      Reporting

NSDF: MACOSA President Battles for Senate President
In a bid to redefine the political jingoism of the National Open University Students' Development Forum (NSDF), the President of  Mass Communication Students' Association (MACOSA), Hon. Daniel Ayantoye has set to battle for the Senate President seat  of the forum.
Daniel declared his ambition at the screening held  today at the university premises.
According to him, he said, "I am agitating for the seat of the Senate President of NSDF".
All Departmental Presidents are said to make up the NSDF Senators.
The students are, however, told to be on lookout so as to purchase the form for any post he or she desired to go for as it will be pasted any moment from now.


Abdulsalam Ibrahim
       Reporting

Three inmates receive NOUN degree at 4th convocation ceremony

By Faith Olatide

The National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, has awarded degrees to three serving inmates alongside over 7,000 others in its 4th convocation ceremony held on Saturday.

According to the Vice Chancellor, NOUN, Profesor Vincent Tenebe, who announced the inmates’ feat at a press briefing, all three graduates are serving time for various offences at the Kirikiri and Enugu Prisons respectively. “This year’s convocation, we are graduating three inmates. Two of the inmates are from Kirikiri Prisons and one from Enugu Prisons. We will continue to award our certificates to inmates found worthy in learning and character” Tenebe said.

Pointing out that the institution has special study centres in Nigerian Prisons, Police, Army and paramilitary formations, the VC said NOUN is pursuing amnesty for graduates who earn degrees while serving jail time so as to enable them contribute to society.

Also honorary degrees were conferred on the Late Dr. Stella Adadavoh and former Inspector General of Police, MD Yusuf. Dr. Adadavoh received Doctor of Science while MD Yusuf was conferred with Doctor of Letters.

On the honorary degree awards, Prof. Tenebe described Dr. Adadavoh as a lady who laid her life to safe many Nigerians from the dreaded Ebola disease.

'There is no Cultism in NOUN' Centre Director reveals

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Ilorin Study Centre Acting Director Mr. Michael Abikoye has called on all Students to comport themselves in the cause of study and during the examinations.

Mr. Michael made this call during an interview with our correspondent in the study centre recently. He also expresses his delight towards the conduct of the students of the study centre in organizing educative programmes.

Mr. Michael however added that one reason students unionism is not allowed in NOUN is because of the evil tendency that accompany it, like cultism. He reveals that in the history of NOUN, there is no cultism.

He further urges the students to shun examination malpractice and that those caught in the last concluded examination were expelled for hiring people to write for them and others caught with different sheet were suspended for one academic semester.

Advising the students, Mr. Michael said, they should exhibit the quality of hard work. Adding that it is better to fail gallantly than to be caught cheating in the examination hall.

NOUN MACOSA establish Broadcasting and Publishing Service in Ilorin Study Centre

As Mass Communication Students Association (MACOSA) of NOUN Ilorin Study centre resumes a new Semester, the President Hon. Daniel Ayantoye has called on all Students to concentrate more on their studies and not to allow social activities to distract them.

Daniel in an interview with our correspondent Patience Odife, reveals that the Association has established a Broadcasting and Publishing arm known as Noun-Masscom Broadcasting Service (NMBS)and
Noun-Masscom Publishing Service (NMPS) in the Centre although has not been officially setup. This arm shall enhance the practical knowledge of the Masscom Students and serve as a News organ for the Students in the Study Centres through the production of NOUN news updates, Bulletin, Newspaper and Magazine which shall based on news related to National Open University of Nigeria he said.

Adding that, students most times want to know the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How of the
University and as such we the Students of Mass Communication uses this as practicals while informing, entertainingand educating our fellow students.

Hon. Daniel concluded by appreciating the Vice Chancellor Professor Vincent  for the financial
contribution to Macosa which he tagged a gift of LOVE during his visit to ilorin study centre last year.
Professor Tenebe is a generous and loving father who have his students at heart, he said. We at NOUN ilorin study centre are blessed to have come face to face with our him which most times is unusual. The fund has already been budgeted and as soon as it is released to us, we will commence the purchase of gadgets for the setting up of MACOSA Newsroom/Studio.
   

Call for acceptance of Open, Distance Education intensifies

Without doubt, Open and Distance Education plays an essential role in personal, community, and national development. The increasing growth in Nigeria’s population, the accelerating demand for education at all levels and the challenge associated with accessibility, call for a more viable and robust means of educating Nigerian citizens, which Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutes are presently doing; but a situation where law graduates from ODL institutes are not admitted into the Nigerian Law School while graduates are excluded from the National Youth Service Corps, raise questions on public acceptability of ODL as a quality means of acquiring formal knowledge. UJUNWA ATUEYI writes on the far-reaching implication of this long-term goal of eradicating illiteracy in Nigeria.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, had recently in an address he presented at the 4th Convocation Ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Lagos, declared that Open and Distance Education has categorically become an integral part of Nigeria’s educational system.

  As an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institute, he reminded the audience that NOUN was established by the Federal Government to provide improved access to many eligible candidates who are constrained by the limited spaces in the conventional universities.

  The institution was initially established on July 22, 1983 as springboard for ODL in Nigeria, but was later suspended by the Military-government on April 25, 1984. However, its tremendous and unassailable role in tackling the country’s educational problems, including access, equity, and education for all became so evident that consequently, its resuscitation became imperative in April 12, 2001.

  According to the President, at the moment, the conventional universities can only admit about 400,000 of the more than 1,500,000 candidates that seek university education in Nigeria, yearly. The 180,000-student enrollment of NOUN accounts for 10 per cent of the total student enrollment in the Nigerian University System.

  “I am glad to note that NOUN is fulfilling its mandate and higher education is being revolutionised through open and distance education. The landmark achievements of NOUN at home and abroad underscore the vision of the Federal Government and its determination to address the challenges posed by inadequate access to quality university education in Nigeria.

  “In no distant future, NOUN will attain the status equivalent to that of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) of India that now provides access to quality higher education to its over three million students since its establishment in 1985. Education occupies a unique place in the transformation agenda of this administration. Consequently, government will continue to provide the needed support to NOUN to further enhance its performance,” he said.

  Jonathan, whose address was read at the ceremony by the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okogie, stated that education underpins all efforts towards national development, and so the fight against corruption, insurgency and all forms of social vices, which government is poised to win, will be made easier if everyone is educated.

  Religious, ethnic strife and intolerance, he added, will be reduced to the barest minimum if education is embraced by all and sundry, coupled with the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which is hinged on Education For All.

  “As the largest black population in the world and with literacy level of less than 60 per cent, Nigeria has adopted the Open and Distance education mode as a veritable tool for achieving its developmental goals and objectives. The National policy on Education provides for lifelong learning through distance education and this administration is taking full advantage of the opportunities that open and distance education provides.”

  “As a pioneer ODL university in Nigeria, and indeed in the West African sub-region, NOUN has created a niche for itself in the national space in particular and the global space in general. My administration is pleased to note that NOUN is operating with a strong consciousness that guarantees success as a front-runner ODL institution in Nigeria,” he expressed.

  But the President’s gladness on the achievement of NOUN may not be complete if issues like denial to partake in the NYSC scheme and non-acceptability of law graduates into the Nigerian Law School are not properly addressed.

  A Professor of Political Science and Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali, had in a lecture he delivered previously, remarked that the denials are common indication of non-acceptability of ODL as a method of acquiring knowledge.

   He noted: “ODL has a number of daunting challenges that are specific to it, these challenges are related to its demand for time, effort, energy, skills, knowledge and staff resources. There are also challenges that relate to public acceptability of ODL as a mode of study whose outcomes are comparable to conventional mode of study.”

  “This question of acceptability influences the existence of a state of affairs which scholars view as the marginalization of ODL courses in United Kingdom (UK) universities, of course with understandable exception of Open University of UK. This state of affairs also exists in Nigeria where graduates of NOUN are still excluded from NYSC and the Law School on the erroneous understanding by the authorities of these institutions that NOUN’s programmes are part- time programmes.”

  However, this development brings so much worry to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, who regretted that, hitherto, majority of the public have not accepted ODL mode as a good method of education.

  In a conversation with The Guardian, he admitted that though funding is a major challenge confronting ODL programme, but “the bigger challenge is awareness ad acceptability, people do not know about ODL and people do not know about the Open University, that is why we are creating advocacy and organising lectures to bring the knowledge to the people to accept ODL and utilise it for meaningful development.”

  “The challenge of not allowing NOUN graduates who were of NYSC age to participate at the National Service scheme like graduates of conventional universities and the Council of Legal Education (CLE) not giving our Law graduates the opportunity to attend Law School and be called to Bar is our collective responsibility.”

 “Discrimination of ODL is witnessed not only among the educationally disadvantaged and uneducated citizens who feel reluctant to utilise ODL mode for personal advancement, but also among the elites and professionals. We need to educate the public and correct the misgiving that NOUN is not a part-time university as all its programmes are full-time and are comparable to all programmes in the conventional universities,” he said.

  He, however, informed that “former President of this country, Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also one of our Ph.D students and a respected citizen in this country, has taken it upon himself to help us talk to the authorities that are in charge of allowing our students to participate in NYSC and also giving our students chance in the law school. Discussions are at advanced stage and I promise you, there will be good news very soon.”

  “I assure you the quality of education we give to our students from all schools is of international standard and we do not only talk about theories, we invite the whole world, Nigerians to come and test our students, give them opportunity to compete with other students from conventional universities and then judge. We are proud of them, we know their worth and capabilities,” he stated.

    Former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Barr Onyekachi Ubani, who affirmed that ODL is one of the best things that has happened in the country, blamed NOUN’s management for not getting definite clarifications before establishing the Law Faculty.

  He said: “I don’t know the arrangement when they set up that university and put Law Faculty because I know that CLE does not admit part-time students into the Law school and the open university programme seems to fall under that part-time arrangement.”

  “And so if it is not a full-time programme would that not be a violation of the standing rule of Nigerian Law School to admit part time graduates? There is supposed to be a synergy from the commencement of the programme, if you are opening up a university and you want to establish a Law faculty, I had thought that the first thing to do was to liaise with CLE and ensure the programme is acceptable by the council, so the entire process was not properly coordinated and now this is showing off.”

  Speaking further on ODL he advised managers of open and distance education to keep an eye on quality and ensure the mission of ODL is achieved so as to have a large number of quality graduates in both public and private sectors of the nation’s economy.

  “ODL is an arrangement that yield worldwide for people who are in employment and cannot go into full time study, so they use ODL to upgrade their knowledge and acquire new skills. Also it provides wider access to people who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to education, so it is a welcome development.”

  “But the mangers need to be serious about it and ensure they do not churn out half-baked graduates because it will be very inimical and fatal to our economic development and the education sector.”

  Meanwhile according to CLE’s profile, in Nigeria, the education of a lawyer starts properly at the University. Faculties of Law are to be found in the Universities all over Nigeria. The conditions or qualification for admission to study law are usually as published by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Act. A prospective lawyer may also choose to study in a foreign university.

   The content of the course of study leading to the award of a law degree, whether from a Nigerian or foreign University, must be approved by the Council of Legal Education. Only foreign universities in common law countries or teaching Common Law courses are approved by the Council. The Council usually insists that the subjects taken must include Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Law of Contract, Tort, Land Law, Equity & Trust, Commercial Law and Law of Evidence.

   The Council of Legal Education runs the Nigeria Law School and all persons who have obtained a university degree in law and want to practice as lawyers in Nigeria, must attend the Nigerian Law School.

  Admission into the Nigeria law School is also open to persons who have passed the final Bar Examinations of the English, Scottish or Irish Bar or the Solicitor’s Final Examinations of England, Scotland or Ireland.

  After a course of study at the Nigeria Law School, the student who passes the final  - Bar Part II - examinations receives a certificate from the CLE and is then called to the Bar by the Body of Benchers as provided by the Legal Practitioners Act. This is followed by enrolment as a Legal Practitioner at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Content Extracted from The Guardian News

National Open University Of Nigeria Approved Academic Calendar For 2015/2016

This is to inform all the esteemed students of The National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN that the management has approved the Academic Calendar for 2015/2016 Session.

Click to View: NOUN 2015 Calendar

NOUN Important Notice To All Project Students

This is to inform all project students of National Open University of Nigeria that the following conditions must be met before you can be assigned a supervisor;

1. You must be in the semester of project
2. You must have registered project in your portal
3. You must have acquired enough credit unit as analysed below;
UNDERGRADUATE. – 105 Credit Units
POST GRAD. DIPLOMA. – 21 Credit Units
MASTER – ARTS. – 21 Credit Units
EDU. – 31 Credit Units
SST. – 20 Credit Units
SMS. – 38 Credit Units

Please come along with evidence of project registration AND print out of your results from the portal.

Meanwhile, note the following deadlines concerning research project for this semester JAN – JUNE 2015

ACTIVITES. DEADLINE
Submission of Project topics. 10th Feb, 2015
Allocation of project supervisors. 28th Feb, 2015
Submission of completed project. 30th May, 2015
- See more at: http://www.liveschoolnews.com.ng/noun-important-notice-to-all-project-students/#sthash.ecR39aaZ.dpuf

NOUN Law Graduates May Be Admitted Into Law School Soon – VC TENEBE

This was made know to liveschoolnews grapevine by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ado Tenebe during the Convocation ceremony of the institution.

According to him efforts are at an advanced stage to ensure that this comes to fruition.

“We are at an advanced stage, because eminent Nigerians like the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also one of our students, and respected citizen of this country have taken it upon themselves to help us contact the authorities to allow our graduates go through the Law School and participate in the bar.” He emphasized.

It would be recalled that C. U. Mmuozoba of the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus, assured the students of his full backing to ensure that every law graduate of the open varsity who successfully completes his programme is admitted to Law School.

Mmuosoba, who spoke on ‘Legal Education In New Age’, on the occasion, however, explained that, “It is not that the Nigerian Law School is averse to admitting open varsity graduates. What the lingering problem is, is about relevant stakeholders not having been able to put the enabling structures in place at the open varsities.
“It is unfair for Open University to take your money, make you spend years gaining legal knowledge and say they you cannot go to Law School. I am fully behind you, but you have to be civil in your agitation. No violence”, he told the law students.

National Open University of Nigeria 2015 Admission Application Form Out

This is to inform all interested candidates that National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Application Form for 2015 Admission is now ongoing.
The sales of NOUN Admission form for the 2015 admission was recently announced by the management of the Institution.
National Open University of Nigeria Application form for 2015 Admission, interested and qualified candidates should read through the guideline provided below;

Available Programmes At National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN

The National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, announced the sales of their application form for admission into the following programmes;
* Certificate,
* Diploma,
* Undergraduate,
* Post Graduate Diploma,
* Masters Degree, and
* Doctor of Philosophy Programmes for 2015 Academic Session.