National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Lafia study centre has matriculated 627 students for different programmes for 2007/2008 academic year.

NOUN vice chancellor, Professor OLugbemuro Jegede, said this at the matriculation ceremony last week in Lafia.

Professor Jegede who was represented by the Lafia study centre overseer, Mr. David Assoloko, said students enrollment has increased and the spread of the clientele has covered more courses while additional study centres have taken off.

He said 59 programmes were being offered at the 34 study centres in Nigeria, adding that the Lafia study centre has 49 facilitators and that materials have been developed and produced in many more courses.

He added that tuition fee was free like in every other federal institution

He challenged students to cultivate the discipline of reading on their own in order to cope with the academic work of the institution and advised residents of the state to take advantage of the study centre to acquire more education.

Mr. Assoloko then commended the efforts of state governments that have contributed to the smooth take off of the new centres in their states.

He also commended the National Space Development Research Agency (NASDRA) for providing the facilities and the infrastructure for interlinking the university with 16 of the 34 study centres.