President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), the visitor to the university, has commended the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), for its pivotal role in widening access to higher education across the country.
The President made this known in an address delivered on his behalf by Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, (NUC),;at the university’s 15th Convocation Ceremony held on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
He described NOUN as a critical institution in Nigeria’s education system, noting that its Open and Distance Learning (ODL) model has helped remove barriers such as location, work schedules, and personal responsibilities that often hinder access to conventional universities.
Tinubu observed that while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, only a fraction gain admission into traditional universities.
He said NOUN has helped bridge this gap by providing flexible learning opportunities for a wide range of Nigerians.
The president noted that the university caters to working professionals, women, civil servants, entrepreneurs, and members of the armed forces, enabling them to pursue higher education alongside their responsibilities.
Tinubu described NOUN as one of the largest open universities in Africa, with over 500,000 students enrolled nationwide, adding that the institution has demonstrated that expanded access does not have to come at the expense of academic quality.
He said the university had continued to provide flexible learning opportunities to diverse groups, including working professionals, security personnel, civil servants, entrepreneurs, women balancing family responsibilities, and inmates in correctional facilities.
The president further reaffirmed government’s plan to reposition NOUN into a globally competitive online university, in line with international trends in digital education
He also commended the university’s partnerships with security agencies, which allow personnel to improve their qualifications and professional competence.
Congratulating the graduating students, Tinubu urged them to remain committed to national development and to apply the knowledge acquired for the benefit of society.
In the same vein, the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Ribadu, had assured that he will engage
with relevant government agencies to finalise arrangements for the participation of NOUN graduates in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
He said: "I want to assure you that we at NUC, we will engage with NYSC to see what policy changes can be made in order for NOUN graduates to participate in NYSC, because the dynamics have changed. Hence, we would do our best to ensure the corrections are made as quickly as possible.”
Ribadu noted that previously, NOUN graduates were often in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. However, recent changes in demography indicate that many students are now graduating at 30 or below, thereby qualifying them for the NYSC experience.
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