Benson pledges support for National Open University

By Saheed Afolabi

The Member of the House of Representatives in Ikorodu constituency, Hon. Jimi Benson, has pledged to support the National Open University with a teaching complex.

He made the pledge during a discussion with delegates from the institution on the plan to open a model study centre in Ikorodu.

The institution’s team had met with the legislator to seek his assistance to strengthen the academic body as it extends its teaching arm to the waterbed region.

The meeting was held at the constituency office of the lawmaker, which was also graced by the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo kingdom, HRM, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali and the chairman of Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

The pioneer director of the University, Ikorodu Model study centre, Prof. Ajibola Saheed Oluwatoyin remarked that NOUN is coming to Ikorodu because most of its registered students in the mainland are showing up from Ikorodu axis, which became a spurring factor to expand.

Explaining the essence of meeting with Benson, Prof. Oluwatoyin, a professor of Applied Mathematics and also the immediate past NOUN Dean Faculty of Sciences, said the need for scholarship arouse due to learners who lack foundational funds.

“Presently, we have three study centres (at Obalende, Victoria Island and Apapa study centre) in Lagos State, Ikorodu, being a household name is due for a teaching annex.

“We’re establishing Ikorodu model study centre to reduce the cost of transportation incurred by students coming to study with us on the mainland.”

Distinguishing his institutional mode of studying, he explained the effectiveness of NOUN’s open and distant learning, adding that the institution eliminates the bottleneck of passing JAMB.

He further noted that with over 100 study centres in Nigeria, the institution correlates the same valid educational standards.