Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on the leadership of the National Open University of Nigeria to embrace sweeping reforms, including the restoration of its Law programme, a drive for increased student enrolment, and the full integration of Artificial Intelligence into its academic system.
Obasanjo made the call at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when he received the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Orji Uduma, and his management team following their official introduction.
"I urge the university's leadership to prioritise modernisation and expand access to quality education," Obasanjo urged, stressing the importance of technology driven advancement in repositioning the institution.
The immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, responded by highlighting progress already made, disclosing that NOUN currently has no fewer than 300,000 registered students, with approximately 190,000 actively participating. He noted that the institution had taken significant steps toward integrating AI into its academic content, efforts that have earned it recognition from international educational bodies. Peters expressed confidence in the incoming Vice Chancellor's capacity to sustain the momentum.
Uduma, on his part, pledged to make the revival of the Law programme a priority while consolidating ongoing institutional reforms. He also expressed appreciation to Obasanjo for his continued support and contributions to the growth of the university. The Vice Chancellor later visited the Abeokuta Study Centre of NOUN, where Centre Director Mr Oyekunle Adegboyega conducted him and his team around the facility.
In a separate development, Obasanjo is set to mark his 89th birthday with a medical outreach targeting no fewer than 10,000 beneficiaries across Lagos suburbs. Organised under the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, the exercise will hold in the Ikorodu and Alimosho local council areas of Lagos State between February 27 and March 4, 2026.
Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr Olalekan Makinde, described the initiative as legacy driven, stating: "This special medical outreach is organised as a legacy driven humanitarian initiative to mark Obasanjo's 89th birthday, reflecting his lifelong commitment to service, nation building, and the well being of the Nigerian people."
Services to be rendered during the outreach will include free cardiovascular screening and blood pressure checks, among others.
