Obasanjo Bags Masters Degree As Open Varsity Graduates 10,653

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) yesterday at its fifth convocation ceremony in Abuja graduated 10, 653 students including former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who obtained a Masters Degree in Christian Theology. Obasanjo completed his undergraduate studies at the university before the post graduate studies.

Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe, said during the ceremony that fifteen graduates including nine males and six females got First Class degrees. He said 34 students graduated from the school of agriculture, 1,726 from the school of arts and social sciences, 1,375 from the school of education, 2,183 from the school of health sciences and 283 from the school. Others were 3,790 (management sciences), 1,242 (science and technology) and 20 students from the center of life-long learning. 

He called on the Council for Legal Education give NOUN law graduates opportunity to attend the law school and be called to bar. Prof. Tenebe identified one Udo Effiong with a First Class degree and a CGPA of 4.71 as the best graduating student. 

Notable among the graduating students according to Tenebe were President Obasanjo with MA (4.25) in Theology, Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Maje, Paramount ruler of Agwu, Felix Okechukwu Asadu, retired Rear Admiral Orisha (First Class in Mathematics), over 70 years old Mayegun and Tumwase 1 of Isara, 78-year-old Chief Femi Balogun (LLB) and a blind man, Obinna Bede (B.Ed- English). 

The university also conferred professors emiriti on two individuals namely; Olugbemiro Jegede, (emeritus professor, open and distance education) and Godwin Sogolo (Philosophy). 

According to Tenebe, the university is meant to provide functional, cost-effective and flexible learning which add lifelong value to quality education for those who seek knowledge, adding that open and distance education has been embraced happily and successfully in most parts of Africa. He called on the federal government to increase funding of the university to be able to employ more staff, build lecture halls and run more programmes.

Source - http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/obasanjo-bags-masters-degree-as-open-varsity-graduates-10-653/129283.html#WlhTkgxkY6EK6DLw.99