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Heartrending Stories of NOUN Law Students as Varsity Cancels Programme

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Heartrending Stories of NOUN Law Students as Varsity Cancels Programme

The recent cancellation of the Law programme at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has left many final-year students grappling with despair and frustration. The abrupt termination has significant implications for students who had invested years of their lives, substantial financial resources, and personal sacrifices into their legal studies.

The Impact on Students

Ade Oludokun‘s journey to becoming a lawyer is marked by significant personal and financial struggles. After losing his job in 2017 and subsequently his business, Ade enrolled in NOUN to pursue his law degree, believing it would provide a path to a better future. Despite financial hardships, he invested over N2 million into his studies, only to face heartbreak when the university announced the cancellation of the LLB Law Programme. “I am in deep emotional pain,” Ade shared. “I invested so much, and now, just as I am nearing graduation, the programme has been terminated.”

Bertram faced life-threatening challenges during his studies, including a harrowing kidnapping in 2018. Despite enduring such traumatic experiences and disruptions, Bertram’s commitment to completing his studies was unwavering. The news of the programme’s cancellation added to his anguish. “We sought extensions and interventions from various authorities, but our appeals were disregarded. Now, we face the abrupt closure of our programme without any formal notification.”

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Sadiku, who had invested in his education with support from his wife after losing his job, was nearing the end of his studies. He had completed his final project and had only six courses left. The sudden cancellation, he says, “is incredibly painful, especially knowing that the decision was made to pave the way for a new programme.”

Systemic Issues and Regulatory Challenges

The issues facing NOUN’s Law programme are rooted in systemic and regulatory challenges. Established in 2002, NOUN’s Law programme has struggled with accreditation and infrastructural issues, including lost academic records and system crashes. Despite efforts to address these challenges, students faced frequent setbacks, including retaking courses and navigating a complex accreditation landscape.

Prof. Sam Erugo (SAN) explains that the NOUN Law degree programme has long been viewed as conflicting with Nigerian regulations for legal training. Historically, graduates faced exclusion from the Nigerian Law School until a remedial year was introduced to level the playing field. This compromise was a partial solution, but it did not resolve the fundamental regulatory conflicts.

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Legal Perspectives and Responses

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Isiaka Olagunju, argues that NOUN should have provided alternative options for students, especially those in their final year, such as affiliations with other universities to complete their degrees. He asserts, “The management of NOUN should be held accountable for the students’ predicament, having been aware that the part-time Law degree was not recognized.”

Prof. Sam Erugo adds that discussions about the cessation of the NOUN Law degree programme have been ongoing. He emphasizes the need for a structured approach to ensure that all legitimately enrolled students can complete their studies. “The cessation was not sudden; it was a result of long-standing discussions. Stakeholders should have ensured that steps were taken to allow affected students to graduate.”

Appeals and Next Steps

In response to the cancellation, students have formed the Concerned Law Students of the National Open University of Nigeria, advocating for intervention and reconsideration. They appeal to the government and NOUN management to grant an additional academic year or other solutions to allow students to complete their studies.

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The students’ plight highlights broader issues within the Nigerian education system, including the need for clear regulations and support structures for distance learning programmes. As the situation unfolds, the focus will be on finding equitable solutions for those affected and addressing the systemic issues that led to the programme’s termination.

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Entertainment

Travis Kelce Impresses in Acting Debut: Cast and Crew Praise NFL Star’s Transition to TV”

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Ahead of Travis Kelce’s much-anticipated debut, his costars Courtney B. Vance, Raven Goodwin, and more expressed their admiration for the NFL star’s acting skills in exclusive interviews with E! News.

Travis made a remarkable impact on his Grotesquerie castmates, both on and off camera, leaving a lasting positive impression.

According to his TV family, he has great potential in acting. “Absolutely,” shared costar and executive producer Courtney B. Vance. “He was incredibly prepared and a wonderful, wonderful man.”

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Raven Goodwin echoed these sentiments, describing him as “lovely” and “gracious.” She noted, “He can do anything he wants to do. He’s Travis Kelce.”

Actress Micaela Diamond also highlighted his team spirit, saying, “I had a great time working with Travis. He’s such a dear.”

For both Micaela and Travis, Grotesquerie marks a significant milestone, as it’s their first big TV project. “We were just the newbies on set, learning from these amazing actors,” she explained.

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Nicholas Alexander Chavez was also impressed, saying, “I can’t believe it’s his first show. He brought so much confidence to the role.”

Ryan Murphy, the show’s creator, praised Travis’ charisma at the New York premiere. “A star is a star, and Travis is one,” Ryan remarked. “He’s so smart and so lovely.”

Off-set, Travis also had the support of his girlfriend Taylor Swift, who encouraged him to explore his new passion. Ryan shared, “She’s been very supportive of him, and I was thrilled about that.”

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Florian Wirtz Shines as Bayer Leverkusen Dominates Feyenoord in Champions League

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Florian Wirtz Shines as Bayer Leverkusen Dominates Feyenoord in Champions League

Florian Wirtz made an impressive Champions League debut, scoring twice as Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a commanding victory over Feyenoord. The 21-year-old German international opened the scoring just five minutes into the match, placing a precise shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

Leverkusen’s second goal came from a well-executed combination between their wing-backs, as Jeremie Frimpong delivered a pinpoint cross for Alex Grimaldo to convert. Frimpong was once again the provider, setting up Wirtz for his second goal, a well-taken volley that gave the visitors a 3-0 lead.

The game was effectively over by half-time when Edmond Tapsoba’s header forced Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther into an own goal, capping off a clinical performance from the Bundesliga champions.

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Despite having fewer shots than their Dutch opponents, Leverkusen was ruthless with their chances, securing a comprehensive win. This marked Feyenoord’s first loss under new manager Brian Priske, who took over following Arne Slot’s departure to Liverpool.

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Jannik Sinner Cleared After Positive Tests for Banned Substance

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Jannik Sinner Cleared After Positive Tests for Banned Substance

World number one Jannik Sinner has been officially cleared of any wrongdoing following two positive tests for a banned substance in March. The Italian tennis star tested positive for low levels of clostebol, a steroid commonly used to build muscle mass, during the Indian Wells tournament.

A second sample taken eight days later also returned a positive result for the same substance. As a result, Sinner was automatically placed under a provisional suspension. However, he successfully challenged this suspension, allowing him to continue competing.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) conducted an investigation and found that Sinner had been inadvertently contaminated by his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Naldi had applied an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to treat a cut on his own hand before performing treatments on Sinner. The ITIA accepted that the contamination was unintentional, and an independent tribunal cleared Sinner of any fault or negligence last week.

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Despite being cleared, Sinner will lose the ranking points and prize money he earned from his semi-final run at Indian Wells. Reflecting on the ordeal, Sinner stated, “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping program. I have a team around me that is meticulous in their own compliance.”

Clostebol, which is often found in products used to treat swelling and irritation, is listed as a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Sinner, who is also the reigning Australian Open champion, will enter the US Open as the top seed, with the tournament set to begin on Monday.

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