Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged sweeping reforms at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), calling for the reinstatement of its Law programme, expanded student enrolment, and the integration of artificial intelligence into its academic framework.
Obasanjo made the remarks on Friday while receiving the university’s newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Uduma Orji Uduma, and his management team at his residence in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigeria.
The former president stressed the need for innovation-driven growth, encouraging the institution’s leadership to modernise its systems and broaden access to higher education through technology.
Responding during the visit, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Olufemi A. Peters, said the university had already begun embedding artificial intelligence tools into its academic content and operations.
According to him, these efforts have attracted recognition from international educational organisations.
Peters disclosed that NOUN currently has approximately 300,000 registered students, of whom around 190,000 are actively engaged in academic activities. He explained that the difference reflects varying levels of participation among students enrolled in the open and distance learning system.
He expressed confidence in Uduma’s leadership, describing him as committed to sustaining innovation and strengthening institutional development.
In his remarks, Uduma pledged to prioritise the restoration of the university’s Law programme and to build on ongoing reform initiatives. He also thanked Obasanjo for his longstanding support for the institution.
Following the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor visited the university’s Abeokuta Study Centre, where he was received by Centre Director Oyekunle Adegboyega and taken on a tour of the facility.