Few months after the establishment of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), formerly Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), another university, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has debuted in lkorodu.
The university heralded its presence in lkorodu, recently with the opening of a model study centre at Itamaga, along ljede road, lkorodu.
With this development, the number of Universities in lkorodu has risen to three, including the Caleb University.
Recently, a representative of the institution who is the Director of the lkorodu Model Study Centre, Prof. Ajibola Saheed, paid a courtesy visit to Hon. Babajimi Benson, the representative of the lkorodu Federal Constituency, at his office in Ebute, lkorodu.
The meeting which was facilitated by the founder of the lkorodu Oga Radio (Online), Omo’ba Peju Akinyemi, also had the presence of the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, Publisher of Oriwu Sun, Chief Monzor Olowosago and Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, and Hon. Kazeem Olanrewaju Sulaimon and Mayor Deen Sanwoola, Director-General, iCare Foundation.
At the visit, the university received its first major acceptance and support from Hon. Benson who promised that he would sponsor the construction of one of the three buildings being proposed for the institution’s permanent site in Ikorodu.
The Federal lawmaker also pledged that he would institute a scholarship scheme for indigent residents of Ikorodu who are seeking admission into the Ikorodu Study Centre of the Open University.
Prof Ajibola, speaking during the visitation, thanked Hon Benson for the warm reception shown to his team.
He explained that, unlike other NOUN Community Study Centres in some parts of Lagos, the federal government was magnanimous by approving a Model Study Centre for Ikorodu.
He also disclosed that the University management has purchased a landed property for the building of the NOUN permanent site along Ijede Road in Ikorodu.
Prof Ajibola also solicited for the support of Hon Benson and other well-meaning individuals across Ikorodu Division to support the success of the Ikorodu Study Centre through scholarship endowment, donation of buildings, computers and educational facilities to the institution.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Oriwu Sun, Prof. Ajibola said that with the establishment of the lkorodu Study Centre, and another one at Badagry, the institution now has five study centres in Lagos State, with the other three centres sited in Victoria Island, Obalende and Apapa.
He explained that lkorodu and Badagry centres were created to accommodate students from both axis, and also relief them of the traffic stress they encounter while going to the Victoria Island or other centres in Lagos.
Speaking on admission requirements, Prof. Ajibola said that prospective students need five credit, including Mathematics and English as well as three courses relevant to their course of study.
He also said that the school calendar of the university is not affected by strike unlike other universities, stating that the institution graduated over 20,000 in 2022, while other universities were enmeshed in prolong strike.
He added that all the study centres of the institution in the country use similar course materials which are available online, while no lecturer is allowed to bother students with handouts as it is the case in other universities.
On tuition fee, Prof. Ajobola said:
“It’s very very affordable. There’s N5,000 charges for form. I don’t know of any university in Nigeria that still charges N5,000 for form. The average tuition is between N80,000 and N85,000, depending on course of study. You’ll pay per course. You can decide to run 5 or 6 courses to reduce your cost. But there’s compulsory fee of about N60,000.
He advised residents to take advantage of the presence of NOUN in lkorodu to develop themselves educationally, while stating that the institution is looking forward to admitting 5000 students between January and February 2023 as the first installment.