The Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), His Royal Majesty Ewuare II, on Saturday presided over the institution’s 15th Convocation Ceremony in Abuja.
The ceremony drew top government officials, including the President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minister of Education, and saw the graduation of nearly 25,000 students across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes.
In his address, the Oba of Benin described NOUN as a national vehicle for inclusion, equity and opportunity, noting that its network of about 130 study centres continues to expand access to higher education for Nigerians outside the conventional university system.
He called for sustained government investment in infrastructure and technology, stressing that strengthening the university is critical to building Nigeria’s human capital and long-term competitiveness.
A major highlight of his speech was a call for greater recognition of NOUN graduates in the national service scheme. He observed that many graduates now fall within the eligible age bracket and expressed optimism that policy frameworks would evolve to guarantee equal opportunities.
The monarch commended the graduands for their resilience and urged them to uphold values of integrity, perseverance and lifelong learning. He also formally admitted them to their respective degrees, diplomas and certificates, with all attendant rights and responsibilities.
The convocation marked the first under the university’s sixth Vice-Chancellor, Uduma Oji Oduma, who assumed office on February 11, 2026.
Oduma outlined a strategic vision for 2026–2031 anchored on transformation, discipline and measurable impact. He highlighted key technological strides, including the migration of institutional systems to Amazon Web Services and the operation of one of the largest Moodle-based learning platforms in West Africa.
With over 180,000 active users and more than 2,000 courses offered per semester, the platform reflects the university’s commitment to leveraging technology for accessible and flexible learning.
The ceremony underscored NOUN’s steady growth and its position as a leading institution in open and distance education in Nigeria.