NOUN 15th Convocation holds 17th–18th April 2026 at Jabi, Abuja and State Study Centres. See gown fees, clearance steps, programme of events, and certificate collection details.
What Is the NOUN 15th Convocation Ceremony?
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has officially announced its 15th Convocation Ceremonies, scheduled for Friday 17th to Saturday 18th April 2026. This is a significant milestone for thousands of graduands who have completed their programmes through open and distance learning at Nigeria’s largest university by student enrolment.
The 2026 convocation will feature both on-site and off-site participation. First Class graduands, award winners, Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) holders, Master’s degree graduands, and Doctorate graduands will attend the ceremony in person at the Convocation Arena, NOUN Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja. All other first degree graduates will participate at their respective State Capital Study Centres via the university’s livestream platform.
If you are a graduand of the National Open University of Nigeria, this article covers everything you need to know about the 15th Convocation – from the programme of events and gown collection to the clearance process, fees, certificate collection, and general instructions. Whether you are attending on-site in Abuja or joining from your study centre, the information below will help you prepare properly.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 15th Convocation Ceremonies |
| Dates | Friday 17th – Saturday 18th April 2026 |
| On-site Venue | Convocation Arena, NOUN Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja |
| Off-site Participation | State Capital Study Centres via livestream |
| Livestream URL | https://www.livestream.nou.edu.ng |
| Gown Collection Date | From Monday, 9th March 2026 |
| Gown Fee (UG/Masters) | ₦55,000 (includes ₦20,000 refundable deposit) |
| Gown Fee (Doctorate) | ₦100,000 (outright purchase) |
| Gown Return Deadline | Monday, 27th April 2026 |
| University Website | https://www.nou.edu.ng |
Programme of Events
The convocation ceremonies will run across two days, beginning with a pre-convocation lecture on Friday and the main degree award ceremony on Saturday. Both events will be held at the NOUN Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, with simultaneous livestream access for off-site participants at State Capital Study Centres.
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 17th April 2026 | Pre-Convocation Lecture | Delivered by Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, CON. Time: 11:00 a.m. Venue: Conference Centre, NOUN HQ, Jabi, Abuja. |
| Saturday, 18th April 2026 | Convocation Ceremony | Award of degrees (Bachelor’s, PGD, Master’s, Doctorate, Honorary). Time: 10:00 a.m. Venue: Convocation Arena, NOUN HQ, Jabi, Abuja. |
The pre-convocation lecture will be delivered by Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, CON, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Graduands who are unable to attend in Abuja can join the lecture and the main ceremony virtually through the university’s livestream platform at https://www.livestream.nou.edu.ng.
Who Attends On-site and Who Attends Off-site?
NOUN has clearly outlined which graduands are expected at the main venue in Abuja and which ones should attend at their State Capital Study Centres. First Class graduands, award recipients, PGD graduands, Master’s degree graduands, and Doctorate and Honorary degree graduands are all required to attend the on-site ceremony at the Convocation Arena, NOUN Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
All other first degree graduates, including those in the Federal Capital Territory, will participate at their respective State Capital Study Centres. This arrangement ensures the ceremony is accessible to the university’s large and geographically diverse student body, which is a core strength of the open and distance education model that NOUN operates.
How to Collect Your Academic Gown
Graduands who have been cleared for the convocation are required to collect their academic gowns and hoods from their respective study centres. Gown collection began on Monday, 9th March 2026, and graduands should ensure they pick up their gowns well ahead of the ceremony date.
For undergraduate and Master’s graduands, the prescribed fee is Fifty-Five Thousand Naira (₦55,000), payable via Remita. This covers the hire of the academic gown, a certificate folder, and other incidentals. A sum of Twenty Thousand Naira (₦20,000) from this amount is a refundable gown hire deposit, which will be returned when the gown is brought back in good condition.
Doctoral graduands pay a flat fee of One Hundred Thousand Naira (₦100,000), which covers the outright purchase of the Doctoral academic gown, the certificate folder, and incidentals. Unlike the undergraduate and Master’s arrangement, the Doctoral gown does not need to be returned as it is purchased outright.
All gowns and hoods for undergraduate and Master’s graduands must be returned to the respective study centres no later than Monday, 27th April 2026. Gowns that are torn or damaged will not qualify for the refundable deposit.
Clearance Process and Required Documents
Before collecting your gown and participating in the convocation, you must complete the clearance process at your study centre. NOUN has advised all graduands to begin this process without delay to avoid last-minute complications. The clearance procedure confirms that you have met all academic and administrative requirements for graduation.
At the point of gown collection, you will need to present the following documents for verification: evidence of payment of the prescribed gown fee via Remita, a duly completed and authenticated clearance form issued at your study centre, and a completed Alumni Membership Form. The Alumni form is accessible at http://www.advancementlinkages.nou.edu.ng, and the printed copy must be submitted to the Alumni Desk Officer at your study centre.
Step-by-Step Convocation Preparation Guide
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Begin Clearance | Visit your Study Centre and obtain the clearance form. Ensure all outstanding course requirements are met. |
| 2 | Pay Convocation Fee | Pay ₦55,000 (UG/Masters) or ₦100,000 (Doctorate) via Remita. Keep the payment receipt. |
| 3 | Complete Alumni Form | Fill the Alumni Membership Form at http://www.advancementlinkages.nou.edu.ng and print it. |
| 4 | Submit Documents | Present your payment evidence, authenticated clearance form, and printed Alumni form at your Study Centre. |
| 5 | Collect Gown and Hood | Sign for and collect your academic gown from your Study Centre from 9th March 2026. |
| 6 | Attend Convocation | Arrive fully robed at the designated venue between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on 18th April 2026. |
| 7 | Collect Certificate | Certificates will be available immediately after the ceremony at NOUN HQ or your State Capital Study Centre. |
| 8 | Return Gown | Return gown to your Study Centre by 27th April 2026 in good condition to receive the ₦20,000 refund. |
Certificate Collection After the Ceremony
One of the highlights of the NOUN 15th Convocation is that certificates will be available for collection immediately after the ceremony. Graduands who attend the on-site ceremony at NOUN Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, will collect their certificates at the venue. Graduands attending at State Capital Study Centres will collect theirs at their respective centres.
There is one important exception for graduates based in Abuja. Those from study centres within the FCT will not collect certificates at NOUN Headquarters but at the University Abuja Model Study Centre on Kubwa Expressway, Abuja. Graduands should take note of this to avoid confusion on the day of the ceremony.
General Instructions for Graduands and Guests
NOUN has issued several important directives for the smooth running of the convocation. All graduands must wear the prescribed academic gowns, as security officials will strictly enforce a “No Gown, No Entry” policy at the Convocation Arena. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
No luggage, handbags, or personal effects will be allowed into the venue. Graduands and their guests must comply with this directive without exception. Invited guests of the university who have invitation cards must be seated by 9:00 a.m. at the latest. Similarly, graduands participating on-site must assemble at their designated locations between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., fully robed and queued according to their faculties. No one will be admitted after 9:00 a.m.
Designated parking lots have been provided within the university premises, and guests are advised to park only in areas specified on their invitation cards. Commercial photographers and videographers who wish to operate at the Abuja venue must register and obtain clearance from the Bursary Department, NOUN Headquarters, between 9th March and 10th April 2026. Those outside Abuja should register with their Study Centre Directors.
Final Thoughts
The NOUN 15th Convocation Ceremony is a well-deserved celebration for the thousands of students who have successfully completed their programmes through the National Open University of Nigeria. Whether you studied from Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, or any other part of the country, this ceremony marks the formal recognition of your hard work and commitment to distance learning.
If you are a graduand, ensure you start and complete the clearance process at your study centre as early as possible. Pay the required fees via Remita, collect your gown, fill out the Alumni form, and prepare all necessary documents well ahead of the ceremony date. Do not wait until the last minute, as delays could affect your participation.
We congratulate all graduands of the National Open University of Nigeria and wish you every success as you step into the next chapter of your careers. For the latest updates, visit the official NOUN website at https://www.nou.edu.ng or contact your study centre directly.
FAQs About NOUN 15th Convocation 2026
The NOUN 15th Convocation is scheduled for Friday 17th April 2026 (pre-convocation lecture) and Saturday 18th April 2026 (main ceremony). The on-site events will take place at NOUN Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, while off-site graduands can join via livestream at their State Capital Study Centres.
Undergraduate and Master’s graduands pay ₦55,000, which includes the gown hire, certificate folder, and incidentals. Of this amount, ₦20,000 is a refundable deposit that will be returned when the gown is brought back undamaged. Doctoral graduands pay ₦100,000 for the outright purchase of their gown.
Certificates will be available immediately after the ceremony. On-site graduands collect theirs at NOUN Headquarters, Abuja, while off-site graduands collect at their State Capital Study Centres. Graduates from study centres within Abuja should note that certificates will be distributed at the University Abuja Model Study Centre on Kubwa Expressway, not at the main headquarters.
Yes, NOUN is conducting the 15th Convocation both on-site and off-site. Graduands who are not attending at the Abuja headquarters can join from their respective State Capital Study Centres via the university’s livestream platform at https://www.livestream.nou.edu.ng.
You will need evidence of payment of the gown fee via Remita, a duly completed and authenticated clearance form from your study centre, and a printed Alumni Membership Form from http://www.advancementlinkages.nou.edu.ng. These documents must be presented at your study centre before you can collect your gown.
Academic gowns for undergraduate and Master’s graduands must be returned to the respective study centres by Monday, 27th April 2026. If the gown is not returned on time or is returned torn or damaged, the ₦20,000 refundable deposit will not be refunded. Doctoral graduands are exempt from this as their gowns are purchased outright.
