Lokoja Centre undertakes series of advocacy visits to secondary schools

As part of its efforts to promote Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode of education, the Lokoja Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Kogi State, has undertaken series of advocacy visits to schools within Lokoja and its environs.

The schools visited were the Saint Clements Minor Seminary, Bishop Delise College, GYB Model Science Secondary School, St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School all in Lokoja.

The advocacy team was led by the Centre Director, Dr. Bridget Yakubu, and it aimed to create awareness and educate the teachers, students and administrators about the importance of education and the role of NOUN in supporting their initiatives.

It also provided guidance and support to students particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and to help them overcome challenges and achieve their academic goals. 

The team’s first port of call was the Saint Clements Minor Seminary, Lokoja, where they were received by Reverend Father Richard Ayodeji, and were given the opportunity to interact with both teachers, students and administrators on the importance of education and the role of NOUN in bridging this divide towards cost effective learning for all.

The director enumerated the advantages of studying with the university, which include the visibility of the university in all parts of the country, virtual facilitations, improvement in students ICT skills as they constantly navigate various sites destinations in their course materials, flexibility in learning through zoom videos and other interactive platforms. 

Similarly, at the Bishop Delise College, they were received by the Principal, Mrs. Anikoh Victoria, and they interacted with the teachers and the students as they brought to the fore the mission and vision of the university. 

This elicited a lot of questions and inquiries from students and teachers with regards to NYSC mobilisation, cost and flexibility, online facilitation and face-to-face teaching, course material, continuation of a programme after a long absence, among others.  

The director, in response identified with all the questions raised and told them how dynamic the school is and thus gave them insights on how it operates. 

She explained that NOUN is a lifelong learning institution that provides access to their portal as long as they are bona fide students, saying further that NOUN also gives them the opportunity to learn at their pace and any place.

At the GYB Model Science Secondary School, after being warmly received by both teachers and students, they were given the privilege to interact and tell them about NOUN, the mission statement and the programsmes. 

The school management and the visiting team talked on a whole lot of issues raised, and they enlightened the teachers on how flexible, cost effective and affordable it is to run a programme with NOUN.

Equally, the centre has visited St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, and were heartily welcomed by the management of the school led by Reverend Sister Lucy Abou (HHCJ).