The Director, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Dr. Francis Osang, has disclosed that part of the reason the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, initiated the Cyber Optic Internet project is to create a campus-like experience for the students across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Osang made the disclosure in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday, September 26, 2025 during his inspection visit to Port Harcourt Study Centre, while on an inspection visit to assess the level of work completed on the Cyber Optic Internet project.
The ICT expert emphasised that the internet project is so dear to the heart of Prof. Peters as such the Vice-Chancellor dutifully prevailed upon the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to sponsor the project to which major study centres of the university are connected.
He explained that the project is such that even some banks in the country cannot boast of because of cost implication, hence the facility must not be trifled with and must be used judiciously.
The director said the project was conceived to bridge the communication gap between major study centres across the country and the headquarters of the university, as well as enhancing communication between centre directors and their staff members, desk officers and their mother faculties.
It will also optimise the participation of learners in online facilitation exercises which before now has been very difficult.
He added that with the internet facility in place, the era of students failing to do their Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and participating in online facilitation for lack of data has come to an end.
“It was the Vice-Chancellor’s dream to create a campus-like atmosphere at our study centres; an environment where students can come to their study centres and take advantage of the Optic Fiber Internet for peer-to-peer networking, interaction and socialisation. The completion of this project has brought that dream to accomplishment,” he said.
The Centre Director, Dr. Theresa Ucheoma Ettu, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and the ICT Director for the provision of the internet facility at the centre.
She reminded Osang of the leaking roof which poses serious threat to the functionality of the computer systems at the centre.
“Although I have already brought this to the notice of the Directorate of Physical Works, I still need to remind you as the Director, ICT, for possible follow up. Our computer systems are in danger because of the leaking roof,” she said.
While expressing optimism on the need for additional systems to improve the conduct of exams at the centre, Dr. Osang said it could be frustrating for a large centre like Port Harcourt to conduct exams with only 130 computer systems, saying that he will remind the appropriate authorities about the leaking roof.
He also promised to do something about providing new computers to the centre, especially as the Vice-Chancellor is working on getting major examining bodies such as JAMB, WAEC and NECO to use NOUN facilities for their Computer-Based Tests (CBTs).
He commended work done in the Server Room of the Study Centre and said that more equipment would be sent to the Server Room so that Port Harcourt Study Centre may be capacitated to serve as the internet hub for study centres in the South-south region.
Accompanying the ICT Director during the visit were Mr. Michael Ashioma, Mr. Peace Olasunde, Mr. Nkwo Isaiah, and Mr. Nnamdi Ezukwu, all of them top personnel of Phase 3, the company contracted to install the Cyber Optic Internet System.
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