The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has called on its staff to embrace a culture of quality, excellence and continuous improvement in all aspects of the university’s operations.
The call was made on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the opening of the university’s 2026 Quality Assurance Week, organised by the Directorate of Quality Assurance (DQA), under the theme, “Quality: Powering Performance.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma O. Uduma, who was represented at the ceremony by the Director, Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), Prof. Ganiyat Adesina-Uthman, described the theme as timely and significant, stressing that quality should go beyond institutional aspirations, regulatory requirements and administrative responsibilities.
“Quality should be visible. It should be present on social media and everywhere within this institution. Only then can we say that quality is powering performance,” he said.
Prof. Uduma emphasised that accreditation outcomes are determined not by an institution’s claims about itself but by the quality of its actual performance and service delivery.
“Accreditation is not determined by what we think. It is determined by the quality of what we do,” he stated.
He described quality as doing the right thing even when no one is watching, noting that this principle lies at the heart of effective quality assurance.
According to him, students are the university’s primary beneficiaries, and providing them with quality services amounts to safeguarding their future and protecting the financial investments made by their parents and sponsors.
“Our students are our customers. When we serve them well, we are also protecting their future and the financial investment their parents and sponsors have made in their education,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor urged staff to embrace the principles of Total Quality Management, stressing that the university should strive for excellence rather than settle for mere satisfaction.
He noted that quality assurance must be evident across all areas of the institution, including teaching and learning, library services, student support and management.
Prof. Uduma further observed that there was always room for improvement, describing the Quality Assurance Week as an opportunity for the university community to reassess existing practices, strengthen institutional processes and pursue continuous improvement.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director of the Directorate of Quality Assurance, Prof. Sami Ayodele, welcomed the Vice-Chancellor’s representative, members of the Governing Council, principal officers, members of the Senate, directors, heads of departments, staff and other distinguished guests.
Prof. Ayodele commended the university management for its support for the initiative, explaining that the week was organised to underscore the importance of building and sustaining a culture of quality, excellence and continuous improvement across the institution.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the keynote address delivered by Dr. Violet Makuku, Director of the Global Quality Assurance Association of Ghana.
Dr. Makuku commended the Vice-Chancellor for his leadership and efforts since assuming office, noting that the theme reinforces the understanding of quality as a strategic driver of organisational effectiveness, institutional credibility, productivity, competitiveness and sustainable development.
She stressed that quality should not merely be demanded but demonstrated, measured, recognised, rewarded and continuously improved.
“The central message I wish to convey today is that quality must not only be demanded, but it must be demonstrated, measured, recognised, rewarded and continuously improved,” she said.
Dr. Makuku explained that institutions that recognise and reward quality foster excellence, while those that encourage innovation inspire creativity. She added that organisations that institutionalise best practices are better positioned to build sustainable cultures of high performance and continuous improvement.
She urged the university community to renew its collective commitment to embedding quality in every aspect of its operations, stressing that excellence should become not merely an institutional objective but the defining characteristic of NOUN.
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