Tinubu Highlights Role of Distance Learning as NOUN Produces Over 24,000 Graduates

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed the importance of open and distance learning in expanding access to higher education in Nigeria, as the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) graduated 24,575 students during its 15th convocation ceremony.

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the President described NOUN as a vital solution to Nigeria’s long-standing university admission gap. He noted that millions of candidates sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination each year, but only a limited number secure admission into conventional universities due to capacity constraints.

Tinubu emphasised that the flexible structure of open and distance learning has created opportunities for individuals who might otherwise be unable to pursue tertiary education. According to him, the model particularly benefits working professionals, older learners, and others unable to participate in full-time campus-based programmes.

The President also praised NOUN’s inclusive education initiatives, highlighting partnerships with security agencies and the Nigerian Correctional Service that allow personnel and inmates to pursue academic qualifications. He described education within correctional facilities as a powerful tool for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi Peters Uduma Oji Uduma, revealed that the graduating class comprised 17,474 undergraduate students, 1,788 postgraduate diploma holders, 5,282 master’s degree recipients, and 31 doctoral graduates. The ceremony also celebrated 57 first-class graduates and 56 inmates who earned degrees through the university’s correctional education programme.

The convocation also featured a call by the Chancellor of the university and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, urging the Federal Government to consider the inclusion of qualified NOUN graduates in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor unveiled the institution’s five-year strategic plan for 2026–2031, aimed at strengthening NOUN’s position as a global leader in open and distance learning through improved digital infrastructure, expanded research capacity, and increased access to education.