NOUN to graduate 24,575 students on April 18, including 31 PhD holders, 56 inmates
Uduma Uduma, vice-chancellor of the National Open University (NOUN), says 24,575 students will graduate at the institution’s 15th convocation ceremony scheduled for April 18.
Uduma spoke on Tuesday at the university’s main campus in Abuja during a pre-convocation media briefing.
He said the graduating cohort cuts across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including 17,474 undergraduates, 1,788 postgraduate diploma holders, 5,282 master’s degree graduates, and 31 doctoral degree recipients.
Uduma described the convocation as more than the award of degrees, noting that it symbolises perseverance, transformation, and academic resilience among students.
He added that many of the graduating students combined their studies with work and family responsibilities, noting that their success reflects determination despite challenges.
The vice-chancellor provided a breakdown of graduating students by faculty: management sciences (7,455), social sciences (6,024), health sciences (3,939), education (3,431), computing (2,205), science (943), arts (452), agricultural sciences (120), and law (six postgraduate diploma graduates).
Uduma further disclosed that 56 inmates from correctional centres benefiting from the university’s free education initiative will graduate, while 57 students earned first-class honours.
He said the initiative underscores the university’s commitment to restoring dignity and offering second chances through education, particularly for inmates pursuing academic qualifications while in custody.
According to the vice-chancellor, the convocation lecture will be delivered by Kanu Agabi, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, on April 17.
The lecture, themed “Nigeria Against Corruption,” will be chaired by Kabir Bala, former vice-chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Uduma added that the convocation ceremony will hold on April 18 across NOUN study centres nationwide, in line with the university’s open and distance learning structure.
