The Federal Government has restated commitment to an affordable and secured education system in the country.

This was made known by the Vice Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi Peters, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Admin, Professor Issac Zamani, during the commissioning of Ijero Community Study Centre in Ekiti State.

Peters stated that NOUN is the largest open university in Nigeria and in West Africa, in terms of students’ enrollment, digitisation and personnel.

The VC stated that the commissioning of the centre marked a significant expansion of accessible higher education and a fulfilled mandate of lifelong learning, adding that in the educational access gap, over 60 per cent of applicants face admission limits annually.

He said that towns like Ijero Ekiti lack direct university presence, noting that distant learning reduces financial and logistical barriers to students.

According to him, facilities are designed for about 1,500 students annually and more than 50 laboratories with digital resources.

He urged eligible citizens to utilise the resources and take advantage of the study centre to improve academically.

In his goodwill message, the King of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, stated that the journey to make the study centre a reality started 10 years ago.

He expressed his gratitude to those who took the challenge, and planned for the study centre.

“I thank those who worked underneath to make it a reality. I am happy to note that NOUN is doing a great job in giving University Education to so many people who have not been able to get their degrees,” he said.