The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has been recognised as the most prominent open University in Africa by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
He announced this on Friday, April 12, 2025, during his Convocation Lecture at the University’s 14th Convocation Ceremony in Abuja.
Adesina commended NOUN for its exceptional role in providing accessible education, citing its enrollment of over 600,000 students across more than 2,000 courses.
He also added that NOUN is the second-largest open University globally, making Nigeria and Africa proud of its achievement.
He called on the Federal Government to triple NOUN’s budget to ensure continued growth in educational accessibility.
Adesina further praised NOUN’s notable alumni, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and expressed personal pride, as his wife’s sister, Professor Yetunde Ofulue, is a professor at the institution.
The AfDB president also spoke about the increasing global challenges, such as rising geopolitical risks, trade tensions, and climate change, which require better financial systems to support Africa’s development.
He added that education remains the greatest equaliser, recounting his father’s sacrifices to ensure his children received quality education.
In his contribution, Professor Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of INEC, shared his concerns about the quality of graduates from Nigerian universities.
He criticised some university graduates’ lack of academic competence and moral character, stating that the ideal of producing well-rounded individuals is often unmet.
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