NOUN Matriculates 25,517 Students, VC Calls for Excellence

NOUN matriculates 25,517 students at its 30th Matriculation Ceremony on April 8, 2026. VC Uduma calls for excellence. See faculty breakdown, programme stats, and key highlights.

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has matriculated 25,517 new students at its 30th Matriculation Ceremony, held virtually on Wednesday, 8th April 2026, across the university’s study centres nationwide. The event marked the formal induction of thousands of Nigerians into various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered through NOUN’s open and distance learning (ODL) system.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Uduma Oji Uduma, presided over the ceremony — his first matriculation since assuming office. He used the occasion to deliver a strong call for excellence, charging the new students to reject mediocrity and take full ownership of their academic journeys. He described NOUN as an institution built on the conviction that education is not a privilege reserved for a few but a right that must be extended to all.

The Registrar, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, administered the matriculation oath to the students via the Zoom platform, reminding them to abide by the university’s rules and regulations. The 30th Matriculation Ceremony underscored NOUN’s position as the leading institution for open and distance education in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, with a student intake that cuts across nine faculties and five programme levels.

Quick Details of NOUN 30th Matriculation Ceremony 2026.

Faculty-by-Faculty Breakdown of Newly-Matriculated Students

The 25,517 students admitted into the National Open University of Nigeria are distributed across nine faculties. The Faculty of Management Sciences recorded the highest enrolment, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the total intake, while Law had the smallest number with 18 students.

The strong showing in Management Sciences and Social Sciences reflects the continued demand for business, accounting, public administration, and social science-related programmes among working professionals and school leavers who choose the distance learning route. Computing’s intake of 3,710 students also signals growing interest in technology and IT-related careers among NOUN’s student population.

At the programme level, the overwhelming majority — 19,149 — are undergraduate degree students. Another 2,194 are enrolled in Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programmes, while 4,107 are pursuing Master’s degrees. At the higher research level, NOUN admitted 20 MPhil students and 47 doctoral candidates, demonstrating the university’s expanding role in postgraduate research and training.

VC Uduma’s Call for Excellence and Confidence

Professor Uduma Oji Uduma’s address at the 30th Matriculation Ceremony was a rallying call for the new students to embrace their NOUN identity with pride and pursue academic excellence without reservation. The Vice-Chancellor made it clear that the open and distance learning model is no longer merely comparable to conventional university education — it is now setting the direction for the future of education globally.

He urged students to see their enrolment at NOUN as a strategic advantage rather than a limitation. He told the new matriculants that they are not secondary participants in the educational system but pioneers of its evolution, noting that while other institutions are still adapting to flexible learning models, NOUN students are already being shaped by it.

The VC also stressed the values of integrity, discipline, and responsibility. He reminded the students that the future is not something that will happen to them — it is something they must build. He assured them that NOUN is committed to providing quality education without barriers, and encouraged them to make full use of the university’s resources and support systems to achieve their goals.

Professor Uduma expressed confidence that the newly-matriculated students would make a positive impact in their communities and contribute meaningfully to national development through the knowledge and skills they acquire at the university.

NOUN’s Mandate to Expand Access to Education

A central theme of the matriculation ceremony was NOUN’s continuing mandate to make higher education accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of location, occupation, or personal circumstances. The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed that the university serves diverse groups, including working professionals, rural dwellers, and inmates in correctional centres across the country.

With over 25,000 students matriculated in a single ceremony, NOUN demonstrates its capacity to absorb learners who might otherwise be shut out of higher education due to geographical, financial, or personal constraints. The virtual format of the ceremony itself reflected this philosophy — students participated from their respective study centres nationwide without needing to travel to the university headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

The flexibility of the ODL model is one of the primary reasons NOUN continues to attract such large and diverse cohorts every admission cycle. Students can balance their academic work with employment, family responsibilities, and other commitments, making it possible for people at different stages of life to earn recognised qualifications from a federal university.

What Newly-Matriculated Students Should Do Next

For the 25,517 students who have just been formally admitted into the National Open University of Nigeria, the matriculation ceremony is the starting point of a structured academic journey. There are several important steps to take as the semester begins.

Course registration is the first priority. Students must log in to the NOUN student portal to register for their courses within the approved period. Failure to register on time can lead to complications with Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and end-of-semester examinations, so this should not be delayed.

The eLearn platform is where course materials, lecture content, and academic resources are hosted. New students should explore eLearn early and download their course materials to stay ahead. TMAs, which form part of the continuous assessment, are submitted through the dedicated TMA portal, and students are expected to complete them before the stated deadlines.

Every student is assigned to a study centre, which serves as the primary point of contact for academic support, facilitation sessions, and examinations. New students should visit their study centre, introduce themselves to the Centre Director and course facilitators, and take advantage of the support services available. The NOUN app is also a useful companion for accessing university information and resources on the go.

Final Thoughts

The NOUN 30th Matriculation Ceremony is a proud moment for the 25,517 students who have earned their places at the National Open University of Nigeria. The Vice-Chancellor’s message was unambiguous: embrace excellence, take ownership of your education, and carry your NOUN identity with confidence. Open and distance learning is not a lesser path — it is the future, and NOUN is leading the way in Nigeria.

If you are among the newly-matriculated students, congratulations. Register your courses promptly, familiarise yourself with the eLearn platform, keep up with your TMAs, and stay connected with your study centre. The resources and support systems are there for you — make use of them from the very start.

For the latest updates and announcements from the National Open University of Nigeria, visit the official website at https://www.nou.edu.ng.

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