Abia Governor Approves NOUN Study Centre in Aba, Says Digital Learning is Future of Education

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved the establishment of a National Open University of Nigeria study centre in Aba, describing digital and distance learning as the unavoidable future of education in a rapidly changing world.

The governor made the announcement on Tuesday while meeting with the management team of NOUN, led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Orji Uduma, at the Government House in Umuahia.

He noted that global interactions have moved fully onto digital platforms, making virtual learning no longer optional. He pointed out that NOUN had pioneered distance education decades before the world went virtual, and today, platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet have become standard tools for learning and meetings.

Otti directed the Greater Aba Development Authority to identify a temporary location for the new study centre in Aba to enable immediate operations, while plans for a permanent site are developed. He described the decision to establish the centre as straightforward and necessary.

Additionally, the governor ordered relevant agencies to begin work on upgrading the existing NOUN facility in Umuahia. He instructed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education to oversee the upgrade.

The governor also highlighted his administration’s continued investment in education, noting that about 20 per cent of the state’s annual budget has been committed to the sector over the past three years. He disclosed that three smart schools are set to be commissioned soon.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN explained that the university currently operates 120 study centres nationwide, with only eight located in the South-East region. He appealed for state support in securing land for the Aba centre and praised the governor’s people-focused development efforts.