The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu has said he will engage with the National Youth Service Corps to allow graduates of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to participate in the national service.
NOP NIGERIA reports that rhe executive secretary of NUC stated this in Abuja on Saturday at NOUN’s 15th convocation ceremony where 24,575 graduates were awarded various degrees.
Ribadu reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to reviewing policy frameworks governing the NYSC with a view to expanding participation for eligible graduates of NOUN and other evolving categories of learners.
The NUC chief, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the occasion as visitor to NOUN, said the NUC would engage the NYSC to consider policy adjustments that reflect changing graduate demographics, particularly the emergence of younger graduates from open and distance learning institutions.
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He emphasised the growing importance of open and distance learning in addressing Nigeria’s widening higher education access gap.
He said: “I want to assure you, at NUC, we will engage with NYSC to see what policy changes can be made in order for non-graduates, because the dynamics have changed.
“Unlike in the past, where graduates of now are 30 years and above, in recent times, you have graduates of a younger age, less than 30, who are likely to participate in the NYSC based on age. We will do our best to see that this thing is effected.”
The ES commended NOUN for its resilience and consistent commitment to expanding access to university education, regardless of location, occupation or circumstance.
He also noted that the university had continued to provide flexible learning opportunities to diverse groups, including working professionals, security personnel, civil servants, entrepreneurs, women balancing family responsibilities, and inmates in correctional facilities.
Ribadu added: “Today, National Open University of Nigeria stands not only as Nigeria’s premier open and distance learning institution, but also as one of the largest open universities in Africa, with over 500,000 students enrolled nationwide.
“This remarkable scale demonstrates the enormous potential of open and distance learning to complement conventional universities in addressing Nigeria’s educational access challenges while maintaining comparable academic standards.
“I especially commend the university for sustaining strong partnerships with our security institutions, enabling officers and personnel to upgrade their knowledge, enhance their professional competence, and contribute more effectively to national development.”
Ribadu further reaffirmed the government’s plan to reposition NOUN into a globally competitive online university, in line with international trends in digital education.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Uduma Oji Uduma, announced that 24,575 graduands were being awarded various degrees across undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
According to him, the breakdown includes 17,474 undergraduate degrees, 1,788 postgraduate diplomas, 5,282 master’s degrees and 31 doctoral degrees.
NOP NIGERIA
