Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for wide-ranging reforms at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), urging the restoration of its Law programme, expansion of student enrolment, and the full integration of artificial intelligence into the institution’s academic framework.
Obasanjo made the call on Friday in Abeokuta while hosting the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Uduma Orji Uduma, alongside members of his management team. The visit followed their formal introduction after Uduma’s assumption of office.
In a statement issued on Saturday by NOUN’s Director of Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Sheme, the former president stressed the urgent need for innovation and technological advancement within Nigeria’s open and distance learning system. He charged the new university leadership to modernise NOUN and significantly broaden access to quality higher education.
Obasanjo particularly advocated the return of the university’s Law programme, describing it as essential to widening professional and legal education opportunities for Nigerians, especially those unable to access conventional universities.
Responding, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Olufemi A. Peters, disclosed that NOUN had already made notable progress in embedding artificial intelligence into its academic content and learning delivery systems. According to him, these initiatives have earned the institution recognition from several international educational bodies, positioning NOUN as a leader in technology-driven learning.
On enrolment, Peters revealed that the university currently has about 300,000 registered students, with roughly 190,000 actively engaged in academic activities. He explained that the gap reflects varying levels of participation among learners.
Expressing confidence in the new administration, Peters described Professor Uduma as a committed reformer poised to sustain innovation and accelerate institutional development.
In his remarks, Uduma pledged to prioritise the revival of the Law programme while consolidating ongoing reforms to strengthen NOUN’s academic offerings and global competitiveness. He also thanked Obasanjo for his continued support.
The Vice-Chancellor later visited the university’s Abeokuta Study Centre, where he was received by Centre Director, Oyekunle Adegboyega, who conducted him and his team around the facility.
