New Open University Study Centre reignites passion for Hon. Wase

It was not the first time that Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase would be attracting significant projects to Plateau State. Since the trained engineer and now highly experienced lawmaker was elected into the Green Chamber of the National Assembly in 2007, Plateau has witnessed a constant flow of projects that have added value to the lives […]

It was not the first time that Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase would be attracting significant projects to Plateau State.

Since the trained engineer and now highly experienced lawmaker was elected into the Green Chamber of the National Assembly in 2007, Plateau has witnessed a constant flow of projects that have added value to the lives of the citizenry.

The commissioning of the National Open University (NOUN) Study Centre in Wase Local Government Area of the state came as a pleasant surprise to the people because of the humble manner it was delivered.

 No noise, no media hype, no propaganda, yet people woke up and saw a citadel of learning which would enhance research and scholarship delivered to their doorsteps.

To citizens of Wase (his constituency), and indeed the entire Plateau, the landmark achievement only represents another testimony of hard work and commitment towards improving the lives of the citizenry.

This is even as many recall that Wase had in the past attracted projects like the Police Secondary School; Police Division HQ; Federal Medical Centre; Wase/Langtang bridge and other bridges, among others to the constituency.

Rt. Hon. Wase who doubles as the former Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament has been instrumental to the siting of the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Jos to cater for the North Central Zone of the country.

Coming from a background as a comrade during his stint in the academia as an engineer and lecturer, Idris Ahmed has shied away from the media, due to his deep devotion to his faith that all glory should go to Allah.

The Open University complex, complete with magnificent classrooms, administrative offices, computer centres and other facilities befitting of a university has projected the historic city of Wase to international reckoning.

At the inauguration of the complex, the federal lawmaker paid glowing tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu thus: “I want to appreciate His Excellency President Bola Tinubu for giving us the support in line with the Renewed Hoper Agenda, to bring this project to completion and commissioning.”

The federal lawmaker said the project would serve as a centre of learning, not only for the people of Plateau State but also for those in Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa and Benue.

 Wase said the vision behind the NOUN Study Centre is to make tertiary education accessible to most rural dwellers in the area and also build capacity for national development.

Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, who commissioned the centre, re-echoed the general sentiments of the people where he described Hon. Wase as a worthy representative who is bringing development and opportunities to the rural areas in order to empower them to break the shackles of poverty and ignorance.

Through clear vision and sheer passion to create opportunities for the people, Idris Wase has joined the rank of visionary leaders who have written their names in gold in the educational development of the state.

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has over 500,000 enrolled students that cut across all the strata of society.

The Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Olufemi Peters, represented by the Deputy VC (Administration) Isaac Butswat, said the centre’s mission is to empower Nigerians through education, foster community engagement, and facilitate sustainable development.

The NOUN VC disclosed that the university graduated 22,175 students at its 13th Convocation ceremony this year alone from its 114 study centres.

 By next year, the number is bound to swell as the Wase Study Centre opens to students aspiring for degrees and certificates recognised both locally and internationally.

The impact of this institution midwifed by the silent revolutionary, RT Hon Idris Ahmed Wase, will impact this generation and generations yet unborn.

Yakubu Dati can be reached at [email protected]