NOUN clears air on ‘mobilising graduates for NYSC’

• There have been reports that Tinubu, during his speech at the 13th Convocation ceremony of the university, directed that henceforth, NOUN graduates be included in NYSC and Law School schemes

The National Open University of Nigeria, (NOUN), has dismissed reports that President Bola Tinubu ordered that its graduates be henceforth mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) and the Nigerian Law School.

There have been reports that Tinubu, during his speech at the 13th Convocation ceremony of the university, directed that henceforth, NOUN graduates be included in NYSC and Law School schemes.

The reports had claimed that the president spoke at the event through his representative and Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Noel Salihu.

Reacting in a statement on Friday, the National Open University of Nigeria, said the report was false and misleading.

The statement which was released through the university’s
Director of Media and Publicity,Malam Ibrahim Sheme, said:”We categorically state that these assertions are entirely false and do not reflect the content of the Visitor’s speech nor the proceedings of the Convocation Ceremony. “

In the statement,tagged:”Re: President Tinubu Directs Inclusion of National Open University Graduates in NYSC Scheme”, NOUN insisted that “the news reports were based on a purported version of the speech that made its way into the social media.”

It read in full:”The attention of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has been drawn to some news reports regarding the remarks purportedly made by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, during the 13th Convocation Ceremony of our esteemed institution.

The publications inaccurately reported that His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who is the Visitor to NOUN, made directives regarding the admission of NOUN graduates into the Nigeria Law School and their mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“We categorically state that these assertions are entirely false and do not reflect the content of the Visitor’s speech nor the proceedings of the Convocation Ceremony.

“Obviously, the news reports were based on a purported version of the speech that made its way into the social media. It is instructive that the Education Correspondents who were duly accredited to cover the Convocation Ceremony, and who were actually there, did not report this gross aberration.

“The Visitor’s full speech can be viewed on the NOUN’s verified social media handles, particularly YouTube and Facebook.

“In conclusion, we firmly affirm that the University is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in all its engagements. As such, we urge members of the public and relevant stakeholders to rely solely on verified sources of information, particularly those directly affiliated with NOUN, to avoid any confusion or misinterpretation.”