The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has announced that the institution is poised to confer degrees upon 17,420 students, out of which 16 have bagged First Class degrees honours in its upcoming 14th Convocation Ceremony.
Peters stated this on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 during a press conference held at the university’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, where he also disclosed that the convocation lecture would take place on Friday, April 11, 2025.
President and Chairman of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, will deliver the lecture on the topic: “Advancing Africa’s Positioning within Global Development and Geopolitical Dynamics.”
The lecture, according to the NOUN VC, will be chaired by the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, who is also the Special Adviser and Coordinator of the Presidential Livestock Reform, Prof. Attahiru Jega.
Peters mentioned that Adesina, and the Speaker of the 10th Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas, would be conferred with the Honorary Doctorate Degrees during the Saturday’s main convocation ceremony.
He said NOUN will confer Dr. Adesina with the Honorary Doctorate Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) (Honoris Causa), while the speaker will receive Honorary Doctorate Degree of Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) (Honoris Causa).
“These recognitions reflect our credibility, growth, and the confidence of international partners,” Peters said.
While providing the breakdown of the total figure of graduands, Peters said out of the total number of the graduates, 10,967 are undergraduates, 6,413 are postgraduate students, and 40 are PhD recipients, with about 51 graduates from correctional centres, underscoring NOUN's commitment to inclusive education and societal impact.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor stated that NOUN has embarked on a transformative journey, integrating advanced technological solutions to enhance educational outcomes, through the establishment of the Directorate of Software Development, which stands as a testament to NOUN's proactive approach in harnessing IT capabilities.
He noted that establishing the directorate has been one of NOUN’s greatest achievements in the last four years, as within one year of establishment they have been able to roll out cutting-edge systems such as the Examination Results Preservation Plan and the first-ever Electronic Counseling System in Nigeria, aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and student support services.
He added that they've also been able to roll out the transcripts and academic records platform, which is an advanced system designed to facilitate seamless processing of requests for transcripts, certificates and academic records.
Peters firmly debunked speculations surrounding the accreditation status of the university’s programmes stating unequivocally that no course offered by NOUN lacks accreditation.
He clarified that the timing of accreditation varies across programmes based on maturity and regulatory timelines, not due to quality or institutional failures.
“All our programmes are fully accredited. Accreditation comes in phases, depending on when a course matures and is due for reassessment,” he said.
In a major policy shift, the VC highlighted that NOUN now requires prospective students to register with JAMB before applying to the university, aligning with standard admission processes in Nigeria.
While the change allows NOUN students to equally access the Federal Government’s NELFUND Student Loan programme, it also brings NOUN into full parity with other universities.
“We thank JAMB for the evolved relationship. Now our students get the JAMB numbers necessary for national recognition and opportunities,” he noted.
Peters extended his gratitude to the media for their continuous support, emphasising the importance of media coverage in showcasing the university’s activities to the wider public.
The Director, Directorate of Media and Publicity in university, Malam Ibrahim Sheme, while giving the vote of thanks, praised the Vice-Chancellor’s deep regard for the directorate’s activities, noting that his presence despite series of ongoing engagements, was a proof of the importance he attaches not only to the directorate, but to the mass media in general.
He thanked the press for their attendance, stating that their presence has showcased the confidence they have in the university.
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