The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has commenced the development of a new five-year strategic plan, with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma pledging to make staff welfare a key priority of his administration.
Prof. Uduma made the commitment on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in Abuja, at the opening of a retreat convened to develop the university’s strategic plan for the next five years.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that the wellbeing of staff was critical to the growth, productivity and overall performance of the institution.
“The welfare of our staff will receive attention in this administration. No university can grow without a motivated and supported workforce,” he said.
Prof. Uduma also emphasised the growing importance of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in expanding access to tertiary education in Nigeria, noting that conventional face-to-face instructional models alone could no longer meet the country’s growing demand for higher education.
“Many conventional universities that once doubted the Open and Distance Learning model are now adopting it. NOUN is positioned to lead that expansion,” he said.
Describing the retreat as more than a routine administrative exercise, the Vice-Chancellor said it provided an opportunity for the university to critically assess its current position and establish clear priorities for the next five years.
“It is an opportunity to critically reflect on where the university is today and agree on our priorities and actions for the next five years,” he said.
He charged members of the planning committee to align the strategic plan with the six-point agenda of his administration and ensure that policy priorities were translated into clearly defined objectives, performance indicators and measurable outcomes.
In her welcome address, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Technology, Innovation and Research, Prof. Christine Ofulue, commended the committee for producing a comprehensive working document, describing it as a document that would be worthy of celebration.
The Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Greg Okagbere, while dlivering the vote of thanks, assured that the committee would produce a robust roadmap aimed at repositioning and strengthening NOUN as one of Africa’s leading Open and Distance Learning universities.
The five-year strategic plan is expected to provide a clear framework for guiding the university’s academic, technological and administrative development through 2031, while strengthening its capacity to expand access, improve institutional performance and consolidate its position as a leading ODL institution.
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