The Director, Port Harcourt Study Centre, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Dr. Theresa Ucheoma Ettu, has been presented with an Award of Excellence by the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Port Harcourt on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

The organisers of the award explained that the award was given to selected heads of establishments whose services have impacted the Rivers State citizenry as a prelude to the May 1, 2024 celebration of Workers' Day.

Ettu, who was joyfully surprised at the recognition accorded her and NOUN as an organisation, gave a five minutes acceptance remarks.

"On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, and the management staff of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), staff and students of NOUN Port Harcourt Study Centre, we bring greetings from NOUN to you all.

“We thank you for inviting the Centre Director, Port-Harcourt Study Centre, NOUN, and staff of the Centre on this special day, to encourage and celebrate us as indispensable citizens of our great nation. 

“Your gesture is most appreciable because this recognition is coming from the church - the Representative of Christ here on earth.

"I pray that as many of us as are being celebrated here today will be privileged to receive a final 'thank you' from our Lord Jesus Christ at the close of the ages as we dispense our responsibilities at our work places with integrity,” the director said.

While turning to the services of the university, Ettu said "Please, permit me to quickly emphasise that NOUN is a unique university, an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution that has brought higher education to the doorstep of every Nigerian.

“At NOUN, we run more than 70 programmes accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for first degrees, postgraduate diplomas, masters and doctorate (PhD) degrees in various faculties such as Agricultural Science, Arts, Education, Health Science, Law, Management Science, Science and Social Sciences.

"You don't need to take JAMB to begin your studies in NOUN. Moreover, at NOUN, you learn at any place, at your pace.

"We, therefore, warmly welcome all who are qualified and love quality, cost effective and flexible learning to come over to NOUN, Port-Harcourt Study Centre, for enrollment without delay."

The award ceremony took place at the Seventh Day Adventist Church Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.