NOUN graduates would soon be mobilised for NYSC

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has stated that it is working with relevant government agencies to finalise arrangements for the participation of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) graduates in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, told students and stakeholders at the 15th convocation of NOUN in Abuja on Saturday that these efforts have become imperative due to significant demographic shifts in the university’s student population.

He 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.

He said, “We will engage with NYSC to see what policy changes can be made to allow NOUN graduates to participate in NYSC. The dynamics have changed. Hence, we would do our best to ensure the corrections are made as quickly as possible.”

Prof. Ribadu, who also represented the Visitor to the university, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, acknowledged the revolutionary efforts that have been championed by NOUN over many years.

He said, “NOUN has removed barriers and provided a flexible learning environment to diverse groups. It occupies a unique and strategic place in Nigeria’s tertiary education ecosystem. As a foremost institution dedicated to Open and Distance Learning (ODL), it has demonstrated that the frontier of higher education can be expanded significantly without compromising quality.”

The President acknowledged that NOUN has played a vital role in democratising access to higher education by providing flexible learning opportunities for working professionals and young people seeking additional qualifications.

“NOUN stands not only as Nigeria’s premier open and distance learning institution but also as one of the largest open universities in Africa with over 500,000 students enrolled nationwide. This remarkable scale demonstrates the enormous potential of ODL to complement conventional universities in addressing Nigeria’s educational access challenges while maintaining comparable academic standards,” he said.

He commended the university for sustaining strong partnerships with security institutions, enabling officers and personnel to upgrade their knowledge, enhance their professional competence, and contribute more effectively to national development.

“Equally commendable is the university’s pioneering initiative in providing educational opportunities for inmates within correctional facilities across the country in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).

“This initiative reflects a profound national commitment to rehabilitation, reintegration, and human dignity. Education remains one of the most effective tools for transforming lives and offering individuals a second chance,” he said.

The president said the administration remains firmly committed to the transformation of Nigeria’s education sector through the Renewed Hope Agenda. “We recognise that no nation can rise above the quality of its education system. I reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to transforming the NOUN into a fully and internationally competitive online university.”

The Chancellor of the university, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, highlighted the imperative of dedicated and sustained intervention funding for the institution.

He said, “If we are to fully harness the strategic importance of ODL, then its physical and technological infrastructure must be commensurate with its national mandate.

“NOUN Study Centres require continuous development, modernisation, and digital enhancement to function at optimal capacity. Investment in this university is not a recurrent cost; it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and future competitiveness.”

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma confirmed in his speech that the graduating students have been found worthy in character and learning, thus qualifying them for the 15th convocation.

He disclosed that no fewer than 24,575 students participated in the 15th convocation ceremony, including 17,474 undergraduates, 1,788 Postgraduate diploma holders, 5,282 Master’s graduates, and 31 doctoral recipients.

He congratulated the graduands and urged them to be good ambassadors of the university wherever they find themselves in the world.