The Director, Special Study Centre for the Nigeria Police Force, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Dei-Dei, Abuja, Prof. Samson Sunday Afolabi, has said the centre is progressing geometrically in its quest to enroll new students.
In an interview with NOUN News correspondent in his office, Prof. Afolabi added that despite the high inflation of last year which resulted in high cost of transportation and others, he said the centre had more students than the previous years.
With regards to returning students, the scholar said he was certain that the students were satisfied with the services they render to them at the centre which contributed to them coming back, hence the increase every semester.
He reiterated that his appointment as a centre director was a call to duty and a task upon him to execute, as, according to him, he is not yet satisfied with the enrollment so far.
As such, the director has made it a point of duty to always ask from Management Information System (MIS) directorate at the end of every semester to know their enrollment status so as to improve on it.
While commenting on the advocacy drive that works for them, he said they usually breakout into groups with each having a head to locate a potential target place, either an establishment or anywhere they can meet people to talk to people one-on-one or in group to give them proper information about the university.
In addition, Afolabi said the centre is in an advantaged position because it is strategically located where they can get students from Niger State as well as people along Kaduna Road, as they reach out to the locals and business people in their clusters.
He appreciated the management for renovating the centre and giving it a face-lift which made the centre more conducive for staff and students, and they also provide an enabling environment for them by always making sure the library is accessed at any given time.
The director made a case for more space especially exams halls, saying that the space can no longer accommodate them during examination periods, acknowledging that during POP they usually make use of staff office because of the limited examination halls.
Most importantly, he said, the provision of additional facilities would go a long way to stop batching of students, and, if it can be achieved, exams can be going on at the same time.
Afolabi opined that if management would help to facilitate the process of making the Police Force approve more facilities for the centre, it would help the centre in addressing the issue of space and office accommodation.
The director also pleaded with the management to look into the issue of shortage of staff, which, he said, is affecting the smooth running of the centre, as some staff were upgraded or have changed cadre without replacements.
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