Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for sweeping reforms at the National Open University of Nigeria, urging the immediate restoration of the institution’s suspended Law programme and deeper integration of artificial intelligence into its academic framework.
Obasanjo made the call in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while receiving the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Uduma, alongside members of the university’s management team.
The former President stressed that the university must reposition itself to meet the evolving demands of the digital age through innovation, technology-driven learning and expanded access to quality education.
“I urge the university’s leadership to prioritise modernisation and expand access to quality education,” Obasanjo was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Sunday by the institution’s Director of Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Sheme, in Abuja.
He emphasised the need for the restoration of the Law programme, which was previously suspended, describing it as critical to broadening academic opportunities for Nigerians seeking flexible legal education.
Obasanjo also advocated increased student enrolment, noting that open and distance learning remains pivotal to bridging Nigeria’s education gap.
The immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, disclosed that the university had already made significant progress in embedding artificial intelligence into its academic content and operations.
According to Peters, the innovation drive has earned the institution recognition from international educational bodies.
He revealed that NOUN currently has no fewer than 300,000 registered students, out of which approximately 190,000 are active, attributing the disparity to varying levels of participation among enrollees.
Expressing confidence in the new Vice-Chancellor, Peters said the university’s reform momentum would be sustained under Uduma’s leadership.
In his remarks, Uduma pledged to prioritise the revival of the Law programme and consolidate ongoing institutional reforms aimed at strengthening academic delivery and administrative efficiency.
He thanked Obasanjo for his continued support for the growth and development of the university.
The Vice-Chancellor subsequently visited the university’s Abeokuta Study Centre, where the Centre Director, Mr. Oyekunle Adegboyega, conducted him and his team round the facility.
NOUN, Nigeria’s premier open and distance learning institution, has in recent years expanded its digital infrastructure as part of efforts to widen access to tertiary education and align with global best practices.
