The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has taken a significant step toward boosting professional education and institutional collaboration.
This follows a courtesy visit by the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN) to the NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma at the university headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting brought together NOUN management and the CHPRBN delegation to discuss areas of mutual interest aimed at advancing health education and professional practice in the country.
Prof. Sabo Mohammed, leading the CHPRBN delegation expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for the audience, noting that the visit was aimed at building a productive institutional relationship.
Outlining the purpose of the visit, the delegation's spokesperson, Prof. Gimbason Daniel Mairafi, presented the Board's proposal for partnership, where he xplained that the collaboration would focus on strengthening the training, professional development, and regulation of community health practitioners.
Prof. Mairafi noted that NOUN's flexible and inclusive Open and Distance Larning model provides a unique opportunity to expand access to quality education for health practitioners nationwide.
He expressed confidence that the synergy would ultimately improve healthcare delivery by producing well-trained, competent professionals.
In his response, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, welcomed the delegation and commended the Board’s initiative.
He reaffirmed NOUN’s commitment to strategic partnerships that drive academic excellence and national growth.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, reminded the delegation of the distinct boundaries between academic institutions and regulatory bodies, particularly regarding admissions and the award of certificates.
Uduma observed that professional boards occasionally overreach into responsibilities that statutory belong to universities.
"While NOUN is open to meaningful partnerships, it is essential for both parties to understand and operate within their respective mandates to ensure a healthy and successful working relationship," Prof. Uduma clarified.
He assured the delegation that the CHPRBN proposal would be carefully reviewed, expressing optimism that a finalised collaboration would significantly benefit the development of community health education in Nigeria.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Shehu Adamu, who praised the delegation for selecting NOUN as a strategic partner and thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his leadership.
He expressed optimism that the discussions would soon translate into a fruitful partnership benefiting students, professionals, and the wider health sector.
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