The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has approved the establishment of a study centre of the National Open University of Nigeria in Aba, while urging Nigerians to embrace digital and distance learning as the future of education.
The Governor made this known on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation from NOUN, led by its Vice Chancellor, Uduma Orji Uduma, at the Government House in Umuahia.
Describing virtual learning as inevitable in today’s technology-driven world, Otti said advancements in communication have transformed how knowledge is delivered and accessed globally.
“It is interesting that the National Open University of Nigeria pioneered this effort decades ago when the world had not gone virtual,” he said. “Today, learning has become distance-based, virtual, and technology-driven. We have no choice but to embrace it.”
On the proposed Aba study centre, the governor described the approval as straightforward, directing the Greater Aba Development Authority to identify a temporary location pending the development of a permanent site.
He also instructed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Uche Eme, to collaborate with relevant authorities to upgrade the existing NOUN facility in Umuahia.
Otti commended NOUN’s contributions to expanding access to education, noting that the institution already operates study centres in Asaga, Ohafia, and Umuahia. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to the education sector, revealing that about 20 per cent of the state’s annual budget has been consistently allocated to education in recent years.
Earlier, Prof. Uduma said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the state government and expanding access to open and distance learning. He noted that NOUN operates over 120 study centres nationwide, with only a few located in the South-East.
He appealed for government support, including land allocation for the Aba centre, and commended the state government’s development efforts, describing them as impactful and people-oriented.
The meeting was attended by top government officials, including the Commissioner for Tertiary Education and other stakeholders in the education sector.