Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday called for key reforms at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), including the restoration of its Law programme, increased student enrolment, and the integration of artificial intelligence into its academic system.
Obasanjo made the remarks while hosting the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Uduma Orji Uduma, and members of his management team at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, following their official introduction.
He emphasised the need for academic advancement through innovation and technology, urging the university’s leadership to prioritise modernisation and expand access to education.
Responding during the visit, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi A. Peters, said the university had already taken significant steps towards integrating artificial intelligence into its academic content.
According to Peters, those efforts have earned the institution several recognitions from international educational bodies, although he did not specify the organisations involved.
On enrolment, Peters disclosed that NOUN currently has about 300,000 registered students, with approximately 190,000 actively engaged. He said the difference reflects varying levels of participation among students.
Peters expressed confidence in the new Vice-Chancellor, stating that Professor Uduma is committed to sustaining innovation and advancing institutional development.
In his remarks, Uduma pledged to prioritise the revival of the Law programme and to strengthen ongoing reforms at the university. He also thanked Obasanjo for his continued support and contributions to the institution’s growth.
Later, at the Abeokuta Study Centre of the university, the Vice-Chancellor was received by the Centre Director, Oyekunle Adegboyega, who conducted the visiting team on a tour of the facility’s offices.
