President Bola Tinubu has identified open and distance learning as Nigeria’s most viable solution to its long-standing university admission crisis, stressing that flexible education systems are key to expanding access to higher education.
Speaking at the 15th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria, the President said the institution has emerged as a strategic response to the widening gap between the number of admission seekers and the limited capacity of conventional universities.
With over two million candidates sitting annually for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Tinubu noted that only a fraction gain admission, leaving millions of qualified Nigerians without access to tertiary education.
Represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the President described NOUN as a “vital instrument” in democratizing education, adding that the institution has proven that higher education can be significantly expanded without compromising academic standards.
He commended NOUN’s flexible structure, which accommodates diverse groups including working professionals, women, entrepreneurs, and security personnel, removing barriers related to geography, age, and occupation.
Tinubu also praised the university’s collaborations with security agencies and the Nigerian Correctional Service, highlighting its role in providing education to inmates as part of rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.
“Education remains one of the most powerful tools for giving individuals a second chance,” he said.
At the ceremony, over 24,000 students graduated, including 17,474 undergraduates, 1,788 postgraduate diploma holders, 5,282 master’s degree recipients, and 31 doctoral graduates. The graduating class included 57 First Class students, as well as 57 inmates who earned degrees through the correctional education programme.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to education reform, Tinubu pointed to initiatives such as the Nigeria Education Loan Fund and increased investment in medical and STEM programmes as part of efforts to enhance access, quality, and technology-driven learning.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of NOUN, Oba Ewuare II, called for the removal of restrictions preventing NOUN graduates from participating in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma unveiled a five-year strategic plan (2026–2031) aimed at positioning the university as a global leader in open and distance learning. The plan focuses on expanding access, strengthening digital infrastructure, and increasing research output.
Uduma highlighted the institution’s technological advancements, including enhanced fibre optic connectivity across study centres and migration to Amazon Web Services. He revealed that NOUN operates the largest Moodle-based learning management system in West Africa, serving over 180,000 active users and delivering more than 2,000 courses each semester.
He also noted ongoing improvements in physical infrastructure, including new academic buildings, laboratories, roads, and student accommodation nationwide.
“At the heart of this agenda lies a simple but profound idea: that education must be accessible, meaningful, and transformative,” Uduma said.
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