NOUN Matriculates 23,885 Students, Says ODL Is Future Of Higher Education

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has matriculated 23,885 newly admitted students, with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Uduma, describing Open and Distance Learning (ODL) as the future of higher education.

Uduma stated this on Wednesday in Abuja during the university’s 31st Matriculation Ceremony, which was conducted virtually across NOUN study centres nationwide.

The vice-chancellor said the growing adoption of ODL programmes by conventional universities, coupled with the increasing preference of young Nigerians for flexible learning, was an indication that the higher education sector was undergoing a significant transformation.

According to him, ODL was increasingly providing opportunities for people who might otherwise be unable to pursue conventional university education because of geographical, economic or other constraints.

The 23,885 newly matriculated students comprise 17,471 undergraduates, 1,967 postgraduate diploma students, 4,333 master’s students, 10 MPhil/PhD students and 104 PhD candidates.

Uduma said NOUN had continued to strengthen its position as a major institution for flexible and accessible higher education in Nigeria.

He noted that developments in technology had made it increasingly possible for students to combine education with work and other responsibilities without compromising their academic pursuits.

The vice-chancellor urged the newly admitted students to take their studies seriously and make effective use of the opportunities provided by the university.

He also encouraged them to develop skills beyond their academic programmes, stressing the importance of adaptability and lifelong learning in a rapidly changing world.

The 31st matriculation ceremony marked another milestone in NOUN’s efforts to expand access to higher education through its open and distance learning model.