Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Uduma Oji Uduma
By Felix Khanoba
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has matriculated 25,517 new students, urging them to pursue excellence and reject mediocrity in their academic journey.
The Vice-Chancellor, Uduma Oji Uduma, gave the charge on Wednesday during the institution’s 30th matriculation ceremony, conducted virtually across its study centres nationwide.
Speaking at his first matriculation ceremony since assuming office, Uduma stressed the need for accessible education and encouraged students to take responsibility for their learning process.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Sheme, the Vice-Chancellor said: “The future is not something that will happen to you—it is something you must build.
“NOUN stands on a simple but radical philosophical foundation: that education is not a privilege reserved for the few, but a right that must be extended to all.”
He added: “Here, the boundaries that once defined who could learn and who could not are deliberately dismantled. Here, opportunity is not rationed; it is expanded.
‘’Wear this identity with confidence. You are not disadvantaged; you are strategically positioned. You are not secondary participants in the educational system; you are pioneers of its evolution. While others struggle to adapt to this model, you are already being shaped by it.”
Uduma reiterated that the Open Distance Learning (ODL) system has evolved beyond being comparable to conventional education, describing it as a leading model globally.
He said ODL “is not only equal and proven; it is now setting the direction for the future of education globally.”
The newly admitted students are spread across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with 19,149 undergraduates, 2,194 enrolled in Postgraduate Diploma courses, and 4,107 pursuing Master’s degrees.
Additionally, 20 students were admitted into MPhil programmes, while 47 are doctoral candidates.
Providing a breakdown by faculties, Uduma noted that Management Sciences has the highest number with 7,519 students, followed by Social Sciences with 5,933. Others include Education (3,526), Computing (3,710), Health Sciences (3,046), Science (759), Arts (704), Agricultural Sciences (302), and Law (18).
He said: “Each of these numbers is not merely statistical, it is human. It represents ambition where there was once doubt, determination where there was once limitation, and hope where there was once uncertainty.”
The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to delivering quality education without barriers and urged students to maximise available academic resources and support systems.
He also highlighted the need for integrity, discipline, and responsibility in the pursuit of knowledge, expressing confidence that the new intakes would contribute meaningfully to their communities and national development.
Describing the ceremony as a milestone, Uduma said it marked a significant step in the academic journey of the students.
He further emphasised the university’s focus on innovation and flexibility, noting that the ODL system allows learners to combine education with other responsibilities.
Students were encouraged to take advantage of this flexibility to achieve their academic ambitions.
Uduma also restated NOUN’s mandate to widen access to education, pointing out that the university caters to diverse groups, including workers, rural residents, and inmates in correctional facilities.
Meanwhile, the Registrar, Oladipo Ajayi, administered the matriculation oath via Zoom, advising the students to comply with the institution’s rules and regulations to avoid sanctions, including expulsion.
