Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed confidence in the quality of education provided by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), stating that the institution is not inferior to traditional universities in the country.
Obasanjo made the remark on Monday during a courtesy visit and alumni award presentation by officials of the university. According to him, his direct experience as a student of NOUN gave him the assurance that the university meets academic standards.
Reflecting on the history of higher education in Nigeria, the former president recalled that the University of Ibadan was the only university in the country for about a decade. He explained that federal and state universities followed, along with private institutions. However, the rising demand for university education remained unmet, prompting the need for an alternative model like NOUN.
He explained that NOUN was established to address the growing gap in access to higher education, especially for working-class individuals and those interested in distance learning.
“Despite the availability of universities, we were still not coping. The gaps kept getting wider, which was why I said the Open University is a necessity. It created more opportunities and made education convenient for those who are employed,” Obasanjo said.
He also addressed the perception that open universities are inferior, saying he enrolled in the institution to experience its quality firsthand.
“I said, let me go there and have a taste of what they’re saying is inferior. Then I came in, I saw, and I conquered,” he said, adding that his PhD was supervised by two distinguished lecturers, just like those in conventional universities. He affirmed that this demonstrated the academic credibility of NOUN and reiterated that the university is here to stay.
Obasanjo pledged his continued support for the institution, which he said once had more than half a million students and is still expanding.
Speaking during the visit, Prof. Ganiyat Adesina-Uthman, Director of the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages (DAL) at NOUN, described the university as a significant asset not only to Nigeria but also to other African countries. She highlighted NOUN’s role in developing human capital to meet international standards and appealed for Obasanjo’s support in providing scholarships for key programmes.
She listed some of the university’s pressing needs, including scholarships for flagship programmes such as Entrepreneurship Studies, Criminology and Security Studies, Mass Communication, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, and support for indigenous students. She also proposed the construction of a university hospital, a 50-room guest house, a 1000-capacity auditorium, and improved community services for host communities.
Also present was Prof. Wilfred Ngwuanyi, Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for African Studies at NOUN. He praised the former president’s intellectual contributions and advocacy for African development. He sought Obasanjo’s assistance in partnering with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for research and publication initiatives and proposed a collaboration with the Chinese embassy to establish a cultural centre.
The event concluded with the conferment of the NOUN Alumni Award on Obasanjo, in recognition of his contributions to the university and higher education in Nigeria.
