The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has flagged off activities for its 15th Convocation Ceremony, announcing a total of 24,575 students expected to graduate from various undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degree programmes.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, who disclosed that the ceremony will kick off with a Convocation Lecture on Friday, April 17, 2026, while the Convocation Ceremony takes place on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at the university headquarters in Abuja as well as from the various study centres via live streaming channel.
The NOUN Vice-Chancellor, who stated this on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 during a Pre-Convocation Press Conference at the headquarters of the university in Abuja, said the Convocation Lecture would be delivered by the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, CON, SAN.
The lecture, according to Prof. Uduma, will be chaired by Professor Kabir Bala and will focus on the theme: “Nigeria Against Corruption.”
He described the theme as both deliberate and timely, a call to national introspection and a reminder that education must produce not only skilled individuals but ethical citizens.
While breaking down the figure, the NOUN VC disclosed that a record 24,575 will graduate, which is the highest in NOUN’s history. This, he added, includes: 17,474 undergraduate students, 1,788 postgraduate diploma students, 5,282 master’s degree holders and 31 PhD recipients.
Out of the total figure, the graduating cohort includes 57 First Class graduates and 56 inmates, reinforcing NOUN’s inclusive educational philosophy.
He explained that the statistics show the Faculty of Management Sciences leading with 7,455 graduates, followed by Social Sciences (6,024), Health Sciences (3,939), Education (3,431), Computing (2,205), Sciences (943), Agricultural Sciences (120), and Law with 6 postgraduate students.
The gender distribution of the figure further highlights the university’s commitment to equity, with women accounting for 58.3% (10,180) of undergraduate students, 49.7% (3,512) of postgraduate students, and 49.6% of PhD recipients.
Prof. Uduma, who is going to sprearhead his first Convocation Ceremony as the Vice-Chancellor, described it as “a reflective pause in the movement of time,” a moment for the university to look back with gratitude and clarity, while charting a bold course forward.
Reflecting on his position as the sixth NOUN Vice-Chancellor, he invoked African philosophical thought, noting the symbolic significance of the number six as representing “labour after vision, responsibility after privilege and stewardship after trust.”
He reiterated NOUN’s core mandate of dismantling exclusivity in education and replacing it with access, emphasising the university’s continued role in democratising learning across Nigeria.
According to him, the forthcoming convocation marks both a ceremonial milestone and a bridge between continuity and renewal.
Professor Uduma paid tribute to the resilience of NOUN students, acknowledging the challenges many faced and overcame in pursuit of their academic goals, while reaffirming the university’s tradition of hosting convocation ceremonies concurrently at its headquarters and across study centres nationwide to ensure that no graduate is left out of the celebration.
In a significant administrative advancement, he announced that certificates would be issued immediately after the ceremonies at every study centre, eliminating the long standing delays often associated with such processes.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation to the media and stakeholders, emphasising the importance of collective effort over individual pursuit even as he underscored the importance of a collective leadership style which often leads to a remarkable achievement.
Earlier, the Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Ibrahim Sheme, who provided an overview of the briefing, outlined its objectives, expectations and strategic role in setting the agenda for the convocation.
He highlighted the importance of the engagement as a strategic interface between the university and the public, noting that the media plays a critical role in shaping perception and amplifying the institution’s achievements.
Sheme emphasised that the briefing was designed not only to inform but to foster transparency and strengthen public trust in NOUN’s processes, reiterating the university’s commitment to a clear communication, accurate reporting and sustained collaboration with the media.
NOUN Registrar, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, who gave a vote of thanks, commended participants and reaffirmed NOUN’s commitment to excellence and service.
He expressed deep appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for his visionary leadership and to members of management for their collective efforts in steering the university toward another successful convocation.
Ajayi also commended the media for their consistent support and professionalism in reporting the university’s activities, noting that their partnership has been instrumental in enhancing NOUN’s visibility and credibility.
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