The Management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), on Thursday, July 10, 2025 played host to a 5-man delegation of the Board of Trustees of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund-BOT), North Central Zone, at its headquarters in Jabi-Abuja.
The visit, led by Engr. Nurudeen Adeyemi, was part of effort to evaluate the utilisation of its grants in education delivery as well as inspect completed and ongoing TETFund-sponsored projects.
Welcoming the delegation, NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, offered a sweeping acknowledgment of TETFund’s crucial role in the university’s history, growth, and continued success.
Peters described the visit as not just an inspection but a moment of reflection on what he called one of the most impactful federal interventions in the country’s higher education landscape.
The VC traced the roots of NOUN’s partnership with TETFund back to its inception, recalling how a take-off grant from the then-Education Tax Fund enabled the university to commence operations in 2002.
Peters emphasised that TETFund interventions have supported many of the physical and digital infrastructures that make up the university, from the refurbishment of NOUN office in Lagos to the establishment of cutting-edge IT systems and study centres across the country.
The Vice-Chancellor was particularly emphatic about the strategic importance of the ongoing fiber optics infrastructure funded by TETFund, which, he said, is transforming NOUN’s digital learning landscape.
He stated that the support gives NOUN students and staff the experience of being in world-class institutions like MIT or the University of London, right here in Nigeria.
‘”We acknowledge the transformative impact of TETFund- funded fibre optics project and we seek continued support for its maintenance,” he added.
He made a strong case for continued support, stressing the unique operational demands of an Open and Distance Learning institution like NOUN and citing ongoing needs such as the provision of at least 50,000 laptops for exam delivery, logistics for moving course materials, and recurring subscription costs for digital infrastructure.
Peters further pleaded for sustained annual support, requesting that TETFund include NOUN in its annual intervention plans to ensure the sustainability of existing facilities.
While speaking, Engr. Adeyemi delivered what he described as “good news,” confirming that the TETFund Board had approved the release of the final tranche of funds earmarked for specific intervention projects.
According to Adeyemi, NOUN plays a vital role in expanding educational access, especially for working adults and individuals who cannot attend conventional universities.
“This university is very critical to the nation's development, as it gives access to people who ordinarily may not access higher education, and this is the only viable option for many of our working adults,” he said.
Adeyemi explained that some of the completed or near-completed projects might be inaugurated at events involving board chairmen or, in the case of flagship projects, even federal ministers or the president.
He urged the NOUN team to keep TETFund informed so arrangements for such high-level commissioning could be made.
He thanked Prof. Peters and his team for their stewardship and diligence in executing TETFund projects across the university’s extensive network of 123 study centres, while also reaffirming the board’s commitment to ensuring that the fund continues to prioritise critical institutions like NOUN.
Meanwhile, the VC led the team to some facilities, like the completed Conference Centre, ICT hub, and the ongoing RETRIDOL building.
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