NOUN breaks ties with Alumni[b][/b] Association
By Daniel Ayantoye


The Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria.(NOUN) Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu has stated that the University will henceforth not be responsible for the NOUN Alumni association.

This statement was contained in a press release signed by Ibrahim Sheme, the university's Director of Media and Publicity and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in abuja yesterday.

The statement quoted the Vice Chancellor saying that the group was a voluntary body for former students who chose to join it and as such the university would no longer have any hand in the affairs of the association.

It further said that with effect from Wednesday June 15, 2016 the university's advancement unit, which had been empowered to liase and work with the association, would stop all forms of collaboration.
"The university will henceforth treat and relate with NOUN Alumni Association as a voluntary association that is independent and remains on its own" Prof Adamu said in the statement.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that the university's decision to withdraw its collaboration with the association followed the refusal of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association to agree to the treaty proffered by the Vice Chancellor to resolve a lingering factional crises between the two group at a meeting at the NOUN headquarters in Abuja Wednesday.

At the meeting, the Vice Chancellor noted that there were numerous complaints from members of the association and the general public which border on power tussle and allegations of wrong doings against both the BOT and the NEC.
According to the statement, the VC advised the association to withdraw and settle all pending court cases out of court.
It was also revealed that the Vice Chancellor called for the dissolution of the current BOT and NEC from the state to federal levels with strict adherence to due process.
It said that Prof. Adamu also recommended that a care-taker committee be set up to conduct the affairs of the association pending fresh elections of officials.
Meanwhile it was recently gathered by the Nigerian Campus Focus correspondent that a memo has been forwarded to all study centre in this regards to confirm the effectiveness of the statement.

In an interview with Nigerian Campus Focus, the NOUN Alumni Kwara state chapter chairman Comr. Emmanuel Chiadika Onyiye noted that the issue was just an internal misunderstanding between officials of the association.

He said that establishment of the NOUN Alumni is to further improve the status and image of the university and not dent it.
He however appealed to the university management to see the crisis as a fight between two children which should not lead to the parent disowning the children; where he likened the university to be the parent of the association.

“NOUN Alumni was established to further improve the status and image of the university and not dent it. I appeal to the university management to see these crises as a fight between two children from the same parent; the parent should not see disowning as an option” he said.
Emmanuel however recalled that despite the crises the association had been able to record success in some projects with the support of the university which students and alumnus are currently benefiting from. He further enjoined the concerned parties to forget their differences and come together to ensure the progress of the association.

NSDF reveals Plans to launch free internet services.
The NOUN Student Development Forum (NSDF) of National Open University of Nigeria, Ilorin study centre have recently reveal plans to launch a free internet service for all students in the center.
Speaking with NOUN News Update the President Sen. Ishola said that his administration is bet on ensuring a purposeful development in the center. Adding that, through the University is not in support of Unionism, the forum has been allowed for reasons of matured conduct among the student and for Academic Excellence.
“The free internet Access is one of our major projects in this Administration. The equipments had already been purchased and the installation is in progress. In few weeks from now students will have access to the internet services free”. He also reaffirms his dedication and loyality to the students that participated in his election into office.” I will ensure students benefit from this leadership and judicious use of the forums available resources”.
Meanwhile, Speaking our correspondent, the students applauded the center and the student forum for the innovation. A student of Political Science Adeife said ‘This is a welcome development and its coming at the best time, the free internet access within the centre will help us resolve the problems we face in submitting our TMA and doing other online activities, such as using the I Learn platform. Isaac idowu, A Mass Communication Student, “I can’t but appreciate the leadership of the student forum and most especially the center Director for this. I am proud of the Executives and Senate of the Forum, I just can’t wait to start browsing free, with this new innovation, I can do so many things without paying”. Hussein Saheed, A law student ‘if this innovation come true as it is projected, then I know we and especially myself did not waste the vote casted that ushered in this present Administration. We all brought them in through election and choose to fund them through developmental levy. So I don’t expect anything lesser.
However, students have been enjoined to continue to be hardworking, prayerful and cooperate with the present leadership for the desired development to come through. Ishola, however promised the student of positive change and development before the end of his Administration.
Our correspondents who went to the site, confirmed that the router that will ensure the connectivity of the internet is been installed