NOUN Governing Council Proposes Zonal Segmentation for Enhanced Administration, Says VC Peters

The Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has proposed the segmentation of the university into six administrative zones to streamline operations and improve efficiency, according to the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters.

Prof. Peters shared this development during a recent visit to NOUN's Lagos Campus, stating that the university’s Council is aiming to make administrative processes more effective by designating zonal directors to oversee the management of each zone. "The university Council had suggested segmenting the university into zones, for administrative convenience, with each zone having its zonal director," he explained.

The move is intended to ease the growing administrative demands across NOUN's extensive network of campuses, but Prof. Peters acknowledged that the university is still in the process of identifying suitable candidates to fill the zonal director roles. Additionally, he highlighted that funding is being sought to support the required facilities within each zone.

As part of this initiative, Prof. Foluke Fatimayin was named as the first Zonal Director for the South-West zone, a milestone that Peters announced during his visit. He further emphasized the university's commitment to finding the right personnel and resources to effectively implement this new structure.

Accompanied by the Registrar, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, Prof. Peters praised the Lagos Study Centre, describing it as the leading study centre in Nigeria. He encouraged the staff to continue upholding the high standards that have placed the centre at the forefront of the institution’s academic achievements. Notably, the centre was recognized for its key role in reviving the admission programme for law students, further underscoring its dedication to delivering quality education.

During his address, Prof. Peters also addressed some challenges facing NOUN, particularly in relation to students' payments, issues with the university’s portal, and the uploading of new course materials. He acknowledged that these hurdles have created difficulties for students but reassured them that the university is actively working towards resolving these issues.

"The centre has organised various orientations and interactive sessions to support new students, including a virtual orientation programme," the Vice-Chancellor added, highlighting efforts made to improve student support services.

The visit concluded with a warm welcome from the management and staff of the Lagos Campus, who expressed their continued commitment to maintaining the centre’s status as a hub of excellence within NOUN's academic framework.

The proposed zonal segmentation is expected to bring about greater administrative ease and foster better service delivery to students across NOUN's nationwide network.