The Management of the Special Study Centre for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Kaduna, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), under the leadership of its Director, Mrs.Abimbola Esther Frank, has paid a visit to the Officer, Air Training Command, Air Vice Marshal E.P Effanga at the Command Headquarters in Kaduna
During the courtesy visit recently, the management of the centre aimed to restrategise and build on the existing established relationships between NOUN and the Nigerian Air Force.
Mrs. Frank told her host that the purpose of the visit was to extend congratulations from the Management of NOUN to the Air Officer Commanding on his new appointment, and to discuss matters pertaining to mutual academic benefits.
The director, who expressed her gratitude for the warm reception, was accompanied by the Centre's Head of Administration, Mr. Barnabas Ambi and some senior staff.
She expressed that his elevation from the Air Officer Commanding to the present esteemed position is a testament to his professionalism, dedication and commitment to the Nigerian Air Force.
Mrs. Frank stated that as partners in capacity building and human capital development, NOUN considered it necessary to maintain close relationships and collaboration.
She added that the visit was also "to reaffirm our commitment to the existing collaboration between the two stakeholders."
Speaking on the mode of operation of the university, Mrs. Frank explained that NOUN is a single mode institution saddled with the responsibility of providing flexible, accessible and quality education to Nigerians through Open and Distance Learning.
She explained that the Special Study Centre for the Nigerian Air Force was established in 2008 with a clear and strategic vision of providing quality educational opportunities for the military personnel and their families.
The centre was also established to bridge the gap between military service and academic advancement and ensuring the military personnel can enhance their intellectual capacity while remaining committed to their professional duties, said the NAF Centre director.
She added that there were a series of academic engagements by the personnel which led to the graduation of many officers from NOUN.
However, with the increase in students enrollment comes the need for more infrastructure which she identified as one of the centre's pressing demands.
In his address, the Air Officer Training Commanding, Air Vice Marshal Effanga, represented by the Chief of Staff and Director of Studies, Air Vice Marshal Francis Ankeli, appreciated the visit and the area of collaboration as two stakeholders.
He maintained that it is obvious that the formation is the landlord of the university therefore it is their mandate to provide adequate security for the staff and the university infrastructural facilities.
"The establishment of NOUN and its mandates of providing quality education to every Nigerian, this has granted access to the personnel of the Nigerian Air Force to leverage and improve their level of education," he said.
He emphasised that the establishment of NOUN is actually improving the level of education of the entire people of Nigeria and beyond.
The Officer, Air Training Command, therefore, promised to assist the university in linking it with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for additional areas of benefits by the university.
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