The 48th Academic Board Meeting of the Faculty of Arts, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, marked the end of the tenure of the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Gideon Omachonu.
In an emotional valedictory remark before the commencement of the meeting at the faculty building in Abuja, Prof. Omachonu expressed appreciation to colleagues for their support, cooperation and commitment throughout his tenure.
He said serving alongside distinguished scholars in the faculty had been both rewarding and enriching, noting that the experience deepened his appreciation of the faculty's traditions and culture.
"I came in fresh, new, from some other places where I didn't know much of your tradition. But you accepted me," he said.
Reflecting on his years of service, Omachonu described his relationship with colleagues as cordial and mutually beneficial, adding that he had learnt valuable lessons from every interaction.
"There is nobody I have ever met, including my students, that I wouldn't have one or two things to learn from," he added.
The outgoing Dean disclosed that he would be stepping aside after the meeting for personal reasons, noting that further details would be communicated in due course.
Following his remarks, the Board considered and adopted the minutes of its previous meeting after corrections to names and apologies for absence. The motion for adoption was moved by Prof. Amina Bashir and seconded by Prof. Philip Tachin.
Under matters arising, members received updates on the Faculty's academic programmes. The Board was informed that the Part-Time Programme in the Department of English had received approval and would commence soon.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the proposed Digital Humanities programme. Members were informed that the Directorate of Academic Planning and Curriculum had advised the faculty to commence with a full Bachelor of Arts degree programme rather than a part-time option. Necessary corrections have been effected, external assessment reports received, and consultations with relevant scholars concluded.
The next phase of the process includes the development of course materials and submission of the programme to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for approval.
Prof. Omachonu also announced recent academic advancements within the faculty. Rev. Dr. Michael Okoronkwo and Dr. Philip Tachin have been promoted to the rank of Professor, while Dr. Theodore Iyere has attained the rank of Reader.
The Board was further informed that Prof. Miracle Ajah has assumed office as Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts.
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