He made the call shortly after receiving his admission / registration letter at the National Open University of Nigeria's (NOUN) headquarters in Lagos where he was offered provisional admission for postgraduate programme in the School of Arts and Social Sciences.
Obasanjo, who arrived at the NOUN headquarters in a humorous style, approached a little boy whose mother is a member of staff of NOUN, posed with him and questioned: "You go to school right... I will soon be a student like you." He is to study for M.A/Ph.D. in Christian Theology.
His admission letter, signed by Josephine Akinyemi and presented by Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Israel Adu, read: "With reference to your application for admission to a postgraduate programme of this university, I am pleased to inform you that you have been offered a provisional admission for postgraduate course leading to the award of MA/PhD, Christian Theology, with effect from the date of completion of first registration.
"At the time of registration, you must produce originals of bank teller/e-payment receipts obtained for application; original bursary pin number collected at the bank; original and three photocopies of all the academic certificates specified in your application form; originals and photocopies of your birth certificates or sworn declaration of age; and three recent passport size photographs.
"The university reserves the right to withdraw your admission whenever it is discovered that you have given false information o the university or falsified any results or records."
In his response, Obasanjo said: "I decided to register as a student and acquire knowledge in Christian Theology not because I want to be a pastor, but because I want to know more about my God and be able to serve him better. And again, I wanted to make a statement that no matter your position, age should not be a barrier to learning. Learning should be a continuous process as longer as you are still mentally able to do so.
"But if you can do it, to learn without formality of a university, fine and good, but I chose to continue to learn by other means and also through the discipline and formality of a university system. I wanted to throw a bit of limelight on this institution knowing fully well that this country at no time in the foreseeable future would be able to provide, build a university for all Nigerian students who want to have education, I am happy about the increase in the enrolment."
He noted that since his last graduation, he has been working on two national projects on library and a book on his life, work and exposure, which has received reasonable progress, thus his decision to take up more challenges.
"Having made reasonable progress on those projects, I thought of what next to keep me challenged, and this admission you have graciously given me is one of them. I want to occupy every minute of 24 hours in a day doing something active, progressing and enlightening to do good to humanity.
"Eight of my children have Ph.D. and I told two of them that when I have difficulty, I will call them to teach me. This is important to me because the knowledge I would acquire will be mine, so there is no shame in learning and if I do well, the credit goes to those who taught me," he further said.
Appealing to his supervisors to be patient with him in the area of timing, he pleaded with the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe, his three supervisors and dean of the school, to treat him as "Student Olusegun Obasanjo, please it is very important."
Tenebe, in his address, described Obasanjo as an intelligent student whose track record in his previous programme at the institution was praiseworthy. He commended him for his interest in the NOUN project and sincere commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria, Africa and humanity.
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