In an effort to ensure access to higher education for members of its community, a high-powered delegation from Neni Town Union in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, has tabled a formal request for the establishment of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Community Study Centre in its domain.

This, according to them, will enable members of the community to easily acquire higher education which would impact positively on their lives.

“We the people of Neni Community are desirous of benefitting from your good works and benevolence to academic excellence to humanity. We are soliciting and requesting that you use your good office to grant our wish of establishing NOUN Study Centre in our reputable town, Neni, Anaocha Local Government, Anambra state,’’ the delegation said.

President-General of the union, Chief (Sir) Christian Ikebudu, stated this on behalf of His Royal Highness, Igwe of Neni, Igwe Onwuamaeze Damian Ezeani, Igwe Ugonabo of Neni town, in Anaocha Local Government of Anambra state, when he led a 15-man-delegation on a courtesy visit to the management of NOUN at the university headquarters in Abuja.

“Having witnessed some of the giant strides of NOUN in ensuring greater access to education through open and distance learning, which are both flexible and cost effective, we would like the community study centre to be established in our domain,’’ the union said.

According to him, Neni Town has all it takes to establish and sustain a study centre, adding that the town has a former Federal Government Party House, easily accessible and strategically located within its domain, which they intend to renovate, equip, and use for the centre, if approved.

He further assured the management that the study centre will be viable for NOUN and willing to assist the university in any area that is necessary to bring this dream to reality as the local government and its environ is densely populated to provide more than the required students to sustain the community study centre.

“We appreciate and congratulate the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, on the good works he has been doing, piloting the activities of this institution with utmost wisdom and moving the institution to the next level since he became the VC of this exalted institution,” he added.

Responding, the Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Butswat, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, thanked the delegation for deeming it worthwhile to pay a courtesy visit to the management of the university.

Butswat said establishing a community study centre is the core mandate of NOUN, in taking education to the doorstep of every citizen.

He said there is a nip from the council in the establishment of community study centres due to personnel, maintenance, structures, among others, as the management is trying to harness and get things in the right place because some of these community centres after establishing them leave the responsibilities to the university as against the initial agreement.

The DVC, however, assured them that the university will look into their request in establishing a study centre in their community as long as the community meets up with the basic requirements.

He commended the delegation for coming out with the initiative, which, according to him, would greatly help in promoting higher education in the community.

In his vote of thanks, Rtd. Executive Director, Securities and Exchange Commission and former member of EFCC Board, Mr. Charles Udora, thanked the management for granting the delegation audience, adding that it will be the joy of the community if their request is granted earnestly.

“We have the wherewithal to take care of the community centre. We have personnel, we have resource persons (professors) that are ready to do the job, structure;, we have entrepreneurs and we are ready to work with you,’’ he said.

Udora assured the management not to entertain any fear as the Neni Town Union is ready to work with NOUN.

The Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, in his closing remarks, thanked the delegation for showing interest in establishing a study centre in its domain.

‘’There is every sign you are prepared for what you want to do and we hope that when it’s finally done you will not abandon it to the responsibility of the university as it has been the case with others,’’ he said.

Present during the visit were: Dr. Sefinat Omuya, Ag. Director, Learner Support Services (DLSS), Dr. Florence Ngozi Uchendu, Scholar and Reader, Department of Public Health, facilitator, Neni NOUN Study Centre, Abuja; Mr. Adefemi Oyedipe, Deputy Registrar, VC Office and other members of staff.