By Sunday Adah, Abuja
Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Oba of Benin Kingdom His Royal Majesty (HRM), Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II has highlighted the uniqueness of NOUN in the Nigerian educational landscape, urging government and other stakeholders to brace in supporting towards attainment of the vision which led to its establishment.
The paramount monarch made the call while admitting all the Graduands to their respective degrees, diplomas, and certificates of the National Open University of Nigeria, during the institution’s 15th Convocation ceremony head at its headquarters in Abuja at the weekend.
He said: “Today transcends mere ceremony. It is, indeed, a solemn affirmation of vision realised, of resilience rewarded, and of national purpose steadily advanced. We gather to celebrate the graduation of nearly 25,000 students, undergraduates, postgraduates, and doctoral candidates, an achievement of remarkable scale and significance. This is not merely a statistic; it is a powerful testament to the enduring relevance and transformative capacity of this University.
“The founding vision of this institution was both noble and necessary, to widen access to quality university education for Nigerians who, for diverse reasons, could not secure placement within conventional systems. Today, that vision stands not only vindicated but gloriously fulfilled.
“Across the length and breadth of our nation, this university has opened doors once closed, restored hope where there was uncertainty, and created pathways for advancement where there were none. This is more than a university, it is an instrument of inclusion, equity, and opportunity.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, tbe National Open University of Nigeria occupies a unique and strategic position within our educational landscape. As the nation’s foremost single-mode Open and Distance Learning institution operating at scale, its reach is unparalleled, with approximately 130 Study Centres distributed across the Federation.
“In practical terms, this University represents not one institution, but a network of learning communities, 130 centres of knowledge, brought together under a unified vision to serve the Nigerian people wherever they may be. Such scale, however, inevitably brings with its profound responsibility and commensurate challenges.
“It is therefore incumbent upon me, in my capacity as Chancellor, to respectfully call the attention of the Federal Government to the imperative of dedicated and sustained intervention funding for this University.
“If we are to fully harness its strategic importance, then its physical and technological infrastructure must be commensurate with its national mandate. These study centres require continuous development, modernisation, and digital enhancement to function at optimal capacity. Investment in this University is not a recurrent cost, it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and future competitiveness.”
He also urged concerned authorities to look into the issue of qualified graduates from the institution who are not above 30 years of age being denied the opportunity to partake of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) one year compulsory service to the nation.
He said: “Furthermore, I am constrained to address a matter of growing concern affecting our graduates. The evolving composition of our student body now includes a significant proportion of young Nigerians within the national service age bracket. These individuals have fulfilled all academic requirements with distinction, yet many encounter constraints arising from policy frameworks that do not adequately reflect the realities of Open and Distance Learning.
“I therefore most earnestly urge the appropriate authorities to remove all impediments preventing eligible graduates of this University from participating fully in the National Youth Service Corps scheme. Equity and justice demand that no graduate of a duly recognised Nigerian university should suffer disadvantage on account of the mode through which their education was delivered.”
He congratulated the graduating students, and charged them, “You stand today as living testimony to the triumph of determination over limitation. You have demonstrated that learning transcends physical boundaries and flourishes wherever discipline, perseverance, and purpose are found. The world you now enter is complex and ever-evolving; yet lam confident that you are adequately prepared to engage with its demands and opportunities.
“As alumni of this distinguished University, you bear a dual charge: to excel in your chosen endeavours and to serve as worthy ambassadors of the ideals this institution represents, integrity, resilience, inclusiveness, and the pursuit of lifelong learning.
“To the Management, staff, and all stakeholders of this great institution, I offer my commendation for your unwavering dedication and commitment. The progress we celebrate today is the product of collective effort, visionary leadership, and steadfast belief in the mission of this University.
The Benin monarch and chancellor of the NOUN closed by reaffirming his “enduring support for the continued growth and advancement of this institution”.
He said: “As Chancellor, I reaffirm my enduring support for the continued growth and advancement of this institution. I shall remain both an advocate for its cause and a custodian of its vision as much as I am a strong veritable custodian of Benin culture as the Oba of the great Benin Kingdom.
“I shall remain both an advocate for its cause and a custodian of its vision as much as I am a strong veritable custodian of Benin culture as the Oba of the great Benin Kingdom.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the future of this University is bright, but its full promise will only be realised through deliberate action, sustained investment, and unwavering national support. Let us, therefore, commit ourselves collectively to strengthening this institution as a beacon of hope and a cornerstone of educational transformation in Nigeria.
“On this auspicious occasion, and by the authority vested in me as Chancellor, [ hereby admit all qualified graduands to their respective degrees, diplomas, and certificates of the National Open University of Nigeria, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities thereto appertaining.”