By Suleiman Dalhatu, Lafia

Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Chief John Michael Abdul, has announced plans by the state government to make the Lafia Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), become the best in Nigeria and indeed in the West African sub-region.

Chief Abdul made the declaration when a delegation from NOUN led by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ologbemiro Jegede, paid him a courtesy visit in Lafia, the state capital, last week.

He said within barely one year of its existence, the Lafia study centre was now ranked as one of the best study centres in the country.

He said that the government "will leave no stone unturned in achieving its objective of providing qualitative education in tertiary institutions and other levels of education", pointing out that education was part of the administration’s 13-point development agenda.

He urged the authorities of the study centre in Lafia to give attention to agriculture, pointing out that farming was the mainstay of the state’s economy.

The deputy governor used the occasion of the visit to appeal to both local and foreign investors to come and invest in the state, assuring that the state would "provide land to any potential investor who wishes to contribute towards the industrial development of the state".

The vice-chancellor of NOUN, Professor Ologbemiro Jegede, said they were in Lafia to inspect the progress recorded at the Lafia study centre, which he described as the flagship of NOUN in the country.

He expressed appreciation to the state government for its support to NOUN, suggesting that the Lafia study centre should be made an international study centre.

The delegation was later treated to a buffet by the state government.