The National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, has matriculated 23,885 newly admitted students at its 31st matriculation ceremony, as the institution continues to expand access to higher education through its open and distance learning system.
The figure comprises 17,471 undergraduate students, 1,967 postgraduate diploma students, 4,333 master’s students, 10 MPhil/PhD students and 104 PhD students.
The institution said the figure represented the number of students recorded at the time of the matriculation, adding that the final number could increase following the completion of registration in the coming days.
The latest admission figures reflect the growing demand for flexible and accessible higher education in Nigeria, particularly among Nigerians seeking opportunities to pursue academic programmes while working or attending to other responsibilities.
NOUN has, over the years, provided an alternative route to university education for students who may not be able to participate in the conventional full-time university system.
The development also comes months after the university graduated 24,575 students at its April 2026 convocation ceremony. The graduating class included 56 inmates, further demonstrating the reach of the institution’s open and distance learning model.
The growing number of students and graduates has continued to position NOUN as a major player in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, particularly in widening access to university education.
With 23,885 new students admitted at the 31st matriculation ceremony, NOUN is again demonstrating the capacity of open and distance learning to accommodate a large number of Nigerians seeking higher education.
More details later.
