The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the Nigerian Army have pledged to strengthen the existing decades-long partnership as well as open new frontiers of collaboration to address emerging needs and dynamisms.
To this end, the two institutions agreed to work closely toward scaling up the army perosnnel enrollment in the university’s programmes by establishing new special study centres and mapping out ways of collaboration with the Nigerian Army University, Biu.
This was stated on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 when the NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, led members of management team to a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General W. Shaibu at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Prof. Uduma told the COAS that Open and Distance Learning has now become a force to be reckoned with in the education landscape in Nigeria ever since the continued operation of NOUN during the corona shut down of 2020.
He said NOUN and the Nigerian Army partnership started in 2006 with the establishment of the Special Study Centre, Sobi, in Kwara State, which has so far witnessed the enrollment of over 700 personnel.
The Vice-Chancellor added that more than 2,000 army personnel have graduated from the university nationwide, which calls for efforts to further strengthen and consolidate on the relationship.
He said after 20 years since its establishement, the Special Study Centre in Sobi deserves the Army Headquarters’ attention by addressing its challenges such as the deteriorating infrastructure and upgrade of the ICT tools to enable it keep pace with the changing technological advancement.
Responding, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General W. Shaibu congratulated the Vice-Chancellor over his appointment and extolled the establishment of NOUN as “one of the revolutionary approach(es) adopted and has been very successful.”
Lt. General Shaibu said “the strategic importance of NOUN is not in contention, what is in contention is the need to keep track of students on the impact they are making after their studies.”
On the need to improve facilities at the Special Study Centre, Sobi, the COAS directed the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) of the Army Headquarters to get in touch with the Corps Commandar, Education, on the expansion drive as well as the collaboration with the Nigerian Army, Biu.
He said the army is particularly interested in intelligence analysis and cyber-security areas due to the current happenings globally.
Lt. General Shaibu added that a number of senior army officers would like to establish a NOUN Community Study Centre in their respective localities, under a subsisting policy of giving back to the community of the Nigerian Army.
Top officers of the Nigerian Army Headquarters flanked the COAS during the visit, while the NOUN Vice-Chancellor was accompanied by his deputies in charge of Administration, Prof. Shehu Adamu and TIR, Prof. Christine Ofulue; the Registrar, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, the Bursar, Mal. Nasiru Marafa, the Librarian, Prof. Angela Okpala, Head of NOUN New Media Unit, Mr. Ambrose Gowong, the Coordinator, Special Study Centres, Mrs. Modupe Adesina, and the Deputy Registrar in the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Femi Adedife.
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