The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has played host to a delegation from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), led by its representative, Professor Danjuma Gwany and his team.
The visit was aimed at celebrating with the newly-appointed Vice Chancellor, Professor Uduma Oji Uduma, and carrying out an inspection of the university’s Centre of Excellence for Migration and Global Studies (CEMGS).
This highlighted a strong working relationship between TETFund and the university, while also providing an opportunity to review the activities, facilities and operations of the centre as part of ongoing monitoring and evaluation processes.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the pivotal role TETFund plays in the growth and sustainability of tertiary education in Nigeria.
He described the fund as “the engine that moves universities,” noting that without its interventions, many institutions would struggle to execute critical projects and programmes.
While appealing for understanding during the assessment, he humbly requested the team to be lenient in their ratings, explaining that both he and the Director of CEMGS were newly appointed and still settling into their roles.
He nevertheless, assured the delegation that the university remains committed to maintaining high standards and would not disappoint stakeholders.
The Vice-Chancellor also reflected on the evolution of CEMGS, explaining that it began as a one-off initiative before eventually becoming a permanent Centre of Excellence.
As a result of its initial status, he noted, the centre had historically received comparatively lower funding than some other centres and therefore appealed to TETFund to consider increasing its funding support where possible.
He further assured the delegation that the university would provide any logistical or administrative support required to facilitate the team’s work and to ensure that the centre continues to thrive.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of CEMGS, Prof. Samuel Opeyemi Iroye, expressed appreciation to the TETFund team for finding time to visit the university and the centre.
He explained that the presence of the delegation was primarily to carry out an assessment and proper verification of the centre’s programmes, infrastructure, research outputs and administrative processes, in line with TETFUND’s mandate to ensure accountability and effectiveness in the utilisation of funds allocated toCentres of Excellence across Nigerian universities.
He noted that such visits are critical in strengthening institutional capacity, identifying areas that require improvement and ensuring that the centre continues to align with national and global best practices in migration and global studies research.
Prof. Iroye emphasised that the staff of CEMGS were fully prepared to provide all necessary documentation, facilitate inspections and engage constructively with the team to ensure transparency throughout the exercise.
He expressed optimism that the exercise would be seamless and mutually beneficial, adding that the centre viewed the visit not merely as an assessment but as an opportunity to receive guidance that would further enhance its impact in research, policy engagement and academic development.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Prof Danjuma Gwany commended the university leadership and staff for the warm reception and cooperation extended to the team.
He said that he was pleasantly surprised by the aesthetic appeal and serene environment of the university, describing the campus as impressive and conducive to academic excellence.
Gwany praised the efforts of the university in advancing open and distance learning in Nigeria and acknowledged the strides made by CEMGS in contributing to research and discourse on migration and global issues.
He emphasised that the purpose of the visit was not only to assess but also to strengthen collaboration, identify areas of support and ensure that the centre continues to deliver on itsmandate.
Addressing the concerns raised by the Vice Chancellor, he assured that the observations and requests would be carefully considered within the confines of TETFUND’s policies, adding that he was confident the partnership between TETFund and the university would continue to grow stronger and yield positive outcomes.
Following discussions, the visit ended on a cordial note, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to collaboration, development and the advancement of research and learning.
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