NOUN team inspects razed study centre in Imo as VC reassures students of adequate safety

A delegation from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has visited the institution’s study centre at Ezeoke Nsu community in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo state, which was recently set ablaze by suspected arsonists.

A press statement issued by Ibrahim Sheme, the NOUN’s director of media and publicity, indicated that the delegation visited the razed study centre on behalf of the management to assess the damage.

The statement said hoodlums burnt the study centre based on a rumour that the federal government was planning to use it to house internally displaced persons from a section of the country.

“They also set ablaze the country home of the immediate past senator for Imo north, Frank Ibezim,” the statement reads.

“NOUN has dispelled the rumour as the concoction of misguided elements and condemned the arson by the enemies of the community, saying it was never contacted by any government agency for such an inexistent measure.

“We are aware that the police have since swung into action to apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crime.”

Meanwhile, Olufemi Peters, the vice-chancellor of the university, has reassured the students of the Ezeoke Nsu study centre and members of the public that academic programmes there would not be interrupted by the “sad occurrence”.

“Academic activities by our students in the Ezeoke Nsu Study Centre will continue unabated as they will be assigned to the Study Centres nearest to them,” the VC said.

“We sympathise with Senator Frank Ibezim over the razing of his residence by the hoodlums and pray to God to recompense him for his loss.

“We are grateful to the leaders and members of the Ezeoke Nsu community for their sympathy with and support for us in the current situation and assure them that their Study Centre will return ever stronger in the shortest possible time.”