President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to transform the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) into a world-class online institution. The move aims to expand access to higher education and improve the quality of digital learning across the country.
Speaking at NOUN’s 15th convocation ceremony in Abuja, President Tinubu outlined a vision centered on strengthening digital infrastructure, upgrading learning platforms, and widening access to flexible education. The event highlighted the growing importance of open and distance learning in addressing Nigeria’s education gap.
Represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, the president described NOUN’s model as a practical solution to the country’s limited university capacity. With over two million candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination each year, only a fraction secure admission into conventional universities.
Tinubu noted that technology-driven education offers a way to accommodate more students without lowering academic standards. He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving regulatory oversight, ensuring quality course delivery, and building partnerships with international institutions to boost the global recognition of NOUN degrees.
The university’s flexible structure, he added, has made it possible for a wide range of Nigerians—including working professionals, entrepreneurs, and security personnel—to pursue higher education regardless of their location or schedule.
At the convocation, more than 24,000 students graduated across various programmes, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. Among them were several first-class graduates and inmates who completed degree programmes while serving their sentences.
The Chancellor of the university, Oba Ewuare II, used the occasion to call for the removal of restrictions preventing NOUN graduates from participating fully in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma presented a five-year strategic plan aimed at repositioning the institution as a leader in open and distance learning. The plan focuses on improving access, strengthening research output, and expanding digital infrastructure between 2026 and 2031.
He also highlighted ongoing digital upgrades, including expanded fibre optic connectivity across study centres and the migration of university systems to cloud platforms. The institution currently operates one of the largest learning management systems in West Africa, supporting hundreds of thousands of users and delivering thousands of courses each semester.
In addition to digital improvements, NOUN has invested in physical infrastructure, with new academic buildings, laboratories, and student facilities being developed across multiple locations nationwide.
Image credit: Premium Times Nigeria
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