The Faculty of Social Science, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has organised a maiden dialogue presentation that critically looked at the issue of restructuring of Nigeria.
The event, which took place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at the Conference Centre of the university, Jabi, Abuja, was titled: “Nigeria to Be Restructured or Not Be Restructured.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Peters, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Butswat Isaac said extolled the dean for coming up with the first Faculty of Social Science dialogue.
“I came to encourage this innovative act being led by the Dean of Faculty of Social Science. I find it innovative and the topic is apt.
“This is a debate that has been going on for some days for those of you that are older, you will agree with me that almost under very government administration recently, you have heard the debate on Nigeria to be restructured or not be restructured. And today the Faculty of Social Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria has organised this seminar to make an input into this debate,”the VC said.
He stated that at the end of the session, participants both offline and online could then go and decide if Nigeria should be restructured or not to be restructured.
“I am pleased with the group of discussants I have seen from diverse areas, different parts of Nigeria…I have seen a lot of professors here. pay attention to the discussants,” Peters added.
On his part, the Dean of the faculty, Prof. Kamal Bello, represented by Dr. Ebele Uduoji, told participants that the event was another testimony “that NOUN is a unique platform for learning, an Open and Distance Learning without any barrier of age or distance.
“NOUN has over 120 study centres across the country and the school fee is affordable. You can join NOUN family today for your academic attainment from your undergraduate to PhD level.
“This gathering today is to discuss the restructuring of Nigeria into four directions in a dialogue manner. We should note that, dialogue as against monologue is a conversation between two or more people in a different view to interact and engage each other.”
Bello explained that dialogue requires skills, deep listening, enquiry, lead expression and observation rather than judgement or evaluation.
“In dialogue, there is always no winner or loser. I give thanks to the university management under the leadership of our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, for making this dialogue possible,” he added.
Prof. Kamal Bello was joined on the stage by Prof. Hassanini Tukur of Nassarawa State University, Keffi; Prof. Jude Ibeh of Miva Open University, Abuja; Prof. Mukhtar Imam of Baze University, Abuja; Prof. Success Jibrin Musa of Veritas University, Abuja and Prof. Sadiq Abba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, University of Abuja as discussants, who offered differing opinions about the pros and cons of restructuring in Nigeria.
Thought-provoking questions relevant to the discussion were asked by participants and answers were offered.
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