Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is not inferior to any other university in the country.
Obasanjo made the remark on Monday while receiving a delegation from NOUN who paid him a courtesy visit and presented him with an alumni award.
The former president said he had firsthand knowledge of the institution’s academic standard, having obtained his PhD there under the supervision of two distinguished lecturers.
“Some people rose up, saying open university is inferior to non-open universities, but I was not discouraged. 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.
“Two distinguished lecturers supervised me and many other PhD students. If they supervised me successfully, my PhD wouldn’t be inferior. So, if mine isn’t inferior and those before me are not inferior, National Open University has come to stay.”
He explained that despite the increase in the number of universities in Nigeria—from federal and state institutions to private universities—the gap in access to tertiary education remains significant. He said NOUN was established to fill that gap, especially for working-class Nigerians and those in need of flexible, distance learning.
“Despite the availability of universities, we’re still not coping. The gaps kept getting wider, which was why I said Open University is a necessity,” he added.
Obasanjo expressed readiness to continue supporting NOUN and its initiatives.
Professor Ganiyat Adesina-Uthman, Director of the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages (DAL) at NOUN, described the institution as the largest of its kind in Africa, committed to human capital development both within Nigeria and across neighbouring countries.
She appealed to Obasanjo for support with scholarships, infrastructure and community development initiatives. These included scholarships for flagship programmes such as Entrepreneurship Studies, Criminology and Security Studies, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, and Indigenous Studies, as well as the construction of a university hospital, guest house, and a 1,000-capacity auditorium.
Professor Wilfred Ngwuanyi, Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Africa Study at NOUN, praised Obasanjo’s vision and advocacy for African self-reliance. He also sought his assistance in partnering with the EFCC on research and publications and in facilitating a Chinese cultural centre through the Chinese embassy.
The event culminated in the conferment of an Alumni Award on the former president.
(NAN)