HeadlineObasanjo Bags PhD, Makes History At Open University

Obasanjo Bags PhD, Makes History At Open University

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BEVERLY HILLS, January 21, (THEWILL) – Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has bagged a doctorate degree at the National Open University(NOUN).

Obasanjo who was among the 14, 769 graduands, was conferred with Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Theology, thereby making him the first PhD product of NOUN.

Speaking on Saturday at the seventh convocation of the University in Abuja, Obasanjo expressed delight for being awarded doctorate degree by NOUN saying he had many honorary degrees but none was as fulfilling as bagging a doctorate degree from NOUN.

“I feel a different sense of joy today from when I receive honorary degrees; at last count, I have received about 20 honorary degrees from top grade universities all over the world,” he said.

“The earned doctorate degree I receive today comes with a different sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.

“My studentship of NOUN confirmed that via the ODL platform, there is no age limit, no status barrier, no social lineage.”

He said that during his student’s days at NOUN, he requested that he should not be given any special privilege because he wanted to go through it as other students.

“I went through the rigours and discipline of post graduate studies like any other post graduate student,” he continued.

“I thank my supervisors for giving me the opportunity of going through the grail and the crucible of research for my doctoral work.

“I could not have had better supervisors; they were firm, strict but meticulous and tortuous.

“Back when I was a student, I travelled to the North East for my field work and I was exposed to the situations in that geopolitical zone.

“I interviewed people from all strata of the society and it enriched my knowledge. I came to the realisation that poverty is not the lot of anybody in Nigeria. It is a choice made consciously or unconsciously by our leaders.

“The beginning of getting Nigeria out of poverty into wealth creation and employment generation is in our choice of leaders who understand what development means and what it entails.

“These are leaders who are ready to do what needs to be done and make hard choices that need to be made. These include stepping on toes of friends and well-wishers who will not transform to the transformation or change agenda.”

The former President was congratulated by President Muhammadu Buhari who described Obasanjo as the ‘Father of Open and Distance Education in Nigeria.’

Represented by Prof. Abubakar Raheed, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Buhari said that it was Obasanjo’s belief in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) that made him enroll in NOUN.

“Obasanjo, because of his quest for quality education, could have opted to fulfill his desire for university education in Ivy League universities of the world and none of them could have denied him this opportunity,” he said.

“NOUN and indeed Nigerians, will continue to appreciate your belief, recognition of and support for ODL in Nigeria; we are proud of you.”

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