Open Learning Through NOUN Offers Solution to Admission Crisis — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigeria’s persistent university admission shortfall can be addressed through open and distance learning, describing the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as a key vehicle for expanding access.

Speaking at NOUN’s 15th convocation ceremony, Tinubu noted that the institution has become a strategic response to the growing imbalance between the number of candidates seeking admission and the limited spaces in traditional universities.

He pointed out that more than two million candidates write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) each year, but only a small proportion secure admission.

“NOUN has demonstrated that the frontiers of higher education can be expanded significantly without compromising academic standards,” he said, describing the university as a “vital instrument” for democratizing access.

Tinubu, represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, praised the institution’s flexible structure for overcoming barriers linked to location, employment, age, and other personal circumstances.

He also commended NOUN’s partnerships with security agencies and the Nigerian Correctional Service, which enable personnel and inmates to further their education.

Describing the prison education programme as a significant step toward rehabilitation, Tinubu emphasized that education remains a powerful tool for reintegration into society.

The convocation saw over 24,000 graduates, including 17,474 undergraduate degree holders, 1,788 postgraduate diploma recipients, 5,282 master’s graduates, and 31 PhD awardees. Among them were 57 First Class graduates and 57 inmates who earned degrees through the correctional education initiative.

Reiterating his administration’s focus on education reform, Tinubu highlighted efforts to expand access, improve quality, and leverage technology, citing initiatives such as the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and increased investment in STEM and medical education.

He encouraged graduates to use their education responsibly for innovation and national growth.

In his remarks, NOUN Chancellor Oba Ewuare II called for eligible graduates of the institution to be allowed into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma also announced a five-year strategic plan (2026–2031) aimed at strengthening access, digital infrastructure, and research capacity.

“At the heart of this agenda lies a simple but profound idea: that education must be accessible, meaningful and transformative,” he said, noting that NOUN now operates West Africa’s largest Moodle-based platform with over 180,000 active users and more than 2,000 courses each semester, alongside ongoing infrastructure upgrades nationwide.

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