The Director, Port Harcourt Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Dr. Theresa Ettu, has urged students to set aside their social and professional status and embrace humility if they are to succeed in their academic pursuits.
Ettu gave the advice during a post-matriculation interaction with fresh students at the Study Centre on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
She advised the students, particularly those with established careers and professional achievements, to approach their studies with an open mind and respect for everyone within the University Community.
According to her, students who allow their achievements outside the university to influence their conduct may struggle to learn from others and benefit fully from the institution's academic and support services.
“If you don't drop your credentials at the gate, you will remember how you are the director-general of one successful organisation or another out there.
"You will remember the size of your mansion there,” she said.
Ettu explained that students must recognise that every member of staff, from security personnel at the gate to the Study Centre Director, has a role to play in supporting their academic journey.
She emphasised that humility and mutual respect were essential to building productive relationships between students and staff.
“Please, respect the staff of the Study Centre because it is our duty and decision to serve our students respectfully,” she said, adding that the university's commitment to treating its adult learners with respect should not be mistaken for permission to speak rudely to staff.
“Please, come as a student. We will relate with you as our student, and when we are done with you, you will surely be happy that you did what we asked you to do. If you come with that humility, you get the best from us,” she added.
The Director also expressed concern over the disrespectful manner in which some students communicate with staff and fellow students on social media platforms established for academic interactions.
She warned that she would not hesitate to remove students who engaged in disrespectful communication on the platforms provided by the Centre.
Such students, she said, would only be readmitted after submitting an application accompanied by an apology.
Ettu further urged students to regularly check their communication platforms, particularly their NOUN email accounts and faculty WhatsApp groups, for important updates concerning their academic programmes.
She explained that desk officers added students to relevant communication channels to ensure they received timely information that would help them navigate their studies with minimal difficulty.
“Lack of updates with information will keep you floating,” she said.
On academic integrity, Ettu cautioned students against outsourcing their tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) to business centre operators or other third parties.
She also warned them against disclosing their email passwords to untrusted individuals, noting that such practices could expose them to criminal activities and examination-related misconduct.
“At NOUN, being an ODL institution, you have the responsibility of doing your academic work yourself. We always emphasise this: do it yourself,” she said.
She stressed that students were responsible for attending online lectures, studying diligently, completing their TMAs, sitting their examinations and undertaking their projects, while making effective use of the university's support services.
Ettu also encouraged the students to take advantage of the university's library resources, explaining that the value of a library was not measured solely by the number of physical books on its shelves but also by the range of electronic resources available to users.
She disclosed that NOUN had access to numerous libraries and online academic resources around the world, adding that the Centre Librarian could provide students with relevant links upon request.
The Director urged the students to study the Vice-Chancellor's address at the University's 31st Matriculation Ceremony, describing it as a useful guide for a successful academic journey at NOUN.
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