OOU introduces distance learning programme to tackle admission crisis

• Confers honorary degrees on Alake, Prof Falola, others

The Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State is to commence Open Distance Learning (ODL) programme, the vice chancellor Prof Ganiyu Olatunde has said.

Prof Olatunde who spoke at the institution’s 27th convocation ceremony for the award of post graduates degrees and diplomas said the aim of the ODL programme was to increase access for applicants seeking admission into the university.

The vice chancellor announced the newly approved courses by the National Universities Commission (NUC), to include; Nursing, Estate Management and Valuation, Quantity Surveying, Veterinary Medicine, Music, Linguistics and Building Technology.He said, “As at the end of the last accreditation visit to Olabisi Onabanjo University in 2017 by the NUC, the institution secured accreditation for 96 percent of its programmes. Already seven new courses have been approved by the council for resource verification visits by NUC’.”

On the operational growth and development, he said the university was recently invited to the 150th centenary celebration of Morgan State University, Baltimore, USA, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed adding that this is aggressively been followed up by the US university.

“A Webometric committee was established to improve the visibility of the university through the enhancement of its web presence, such that in the next couple of months, OOU that currently ranks as 18th in Nigeria, will move within the first five universities in this country. This university has also been e-compliant in its meetings at most levels, thus reducing cost and facilitating efficiency”

However, the highlight of the programme was the conferment of honorary Doctorate Degrees on some notable personalities including Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Chairman, Coronation Capital Limited, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Ibukun Awosika and Prof Toyin Omoyeni Falola. Governor Ibikunle Amosun also laid the foundation of the institution’s 10-storey Senate building.

The Pro-Chancellor of the university, Mrs Mosun Bello-Olusoga assured that the council would sustain the progress so far made and improve on it, stating that the institution had enjoyed a very rapid infrastructural development in the last five years, because of judicious utilisation of funds from the state government, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund); NEEDS, as well as Internally Generated Revenue.

She called on the graduands to summon all the enthusiasm that they mustered during their studenship in the university, and strive hard to make significant differences as they go into the world.Amosun commended the management of the institution for the “great achievements” recorded so far, while enjoining the granduands to be good ambassadors of the university and the state at large, wherever they find themselves in the future.