The National Open University of Nigeria is a well-known ODL institution that provides students with a 21st-century education that is affordable and practical.
The mission has not changed since they opened doors in July 1983: they bring higher education to interested Nigerians. The first executive president of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, aimed to create a university that would be accessible to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
This goal was established on the understanding that educated citizens are essential to maintaining a healthy democracy and a prosperous, happy society. It was unrealistic to expect Nigeria’s traditional higher education institutions to provide for the educational needs of such a large population.
The idea of an “open university” has existed for more than 40 years and has spread worldwide. This did not begin in Nigeria.
There are already more than 60 open universities in the world, located in places as diverse as the United States of America, Australia, India, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Israel, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Japan, and Greece.
Open University was founded on the idea that those who had never had access to a traditional university setting might benefit from a high-quality education at the degree level.
Overview of the National Open University
The national open university portal was established on July 22, 1983, as a catalyst for distance learning and open access in Nigeria. On April 25, 1984, the government ordered its suspension. However, on April 12, 2001, former Nigerian president General Olusegun Obasanjo began reopening it.
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was founded to accommodate students who would otherwise be unable to pursue higher education at a conventional institution. More than 50,000 students from every state are already enrolled at the rapidly expanding university.
To suit the demands of its diverse student body, NOUN provides various undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs and certificates and diplomas.
NOUN enables learners to pursue post-secondary education without commuting to traditional classroom settings.
Additionally, NOUN’s fees are among the most competitive in the industry. By setting tuition rates that are much lower than those of competing institutions, the university has ensured that higher education is affordable for everybody. This means that college education is now more affordable than ever for students.
National Open University of Nigeria(NOUN) Study Centres and Their Locations
| Name | Town | State |
| Umudike Study Centre | UMUAHIA | ABIA |
| Yola Study Centre | YOLA | ADAMAWA |
| Gulak Community Study Centre | GULAK | ADAMAWA |
| Uyo Study Centre | UYO | ADAMAWA |
| Awka Study Centre | ABAGANA | AKWA IBOM |
| Azare Community Study Centre | AZARE | ANAMBRA |
| Bauchi Study Centre | BAUCHI | BAUCHI |
| Bogoro Community Study Centre | BOGORO | BAUCHI |
| Makurdi Study Centre | MAKURDI | BENUE |
| Otukpo Study Centre | OTUKPO | BENUE |
| Ugbokolo Study Centre | UGBOKOLO | BENUE |
| Maiduguri Study Centre | MAIDUGURI | BORNO |
| Yenagoa Study Centre | YENOGOA | BAYELSA |
| Calabar Study Centre | CALABAR | CROSS RIVERS |
| Ikom Community Study Centre | IKOM | CROSS RIVERS |
| Asaba Study Centre | ASABA | DELTA |
| Emevor Community Study Centre | EMEVOR | DELTA |
| Owhrode Community Study Centre | OWHRODE | DELTA |
| Abakaliki Study Centre | ABAKALIKI | EBOYIN |
| Benin Study Centre | BENIN | EDO |
| Fugar Community Study Centre | ETSAKO | EDO |
| Uromi Community Study Centre | UROMI | EDO |
| Awgu Community Study Centre | ORIE AWGU | EDO |
| Enugu Study Centre | ENUGU | ENUGU |
| Nigerian Prisons Special Study Centre Enugu | VOSAN | ENUGU |
| Abuja Model Study Centre | KUBWA | FCT |
| Federal Road Safety Corps Special Study Centre Abuja | WUSE II | FCT |
| National Union Of Road Transport Workers Special Study Centre Garki Abuja | GARKI II | FCT |
| Nigeria Immigration Service Special Study Centre Abuja | GWAGWALADA | FCT |
| Nigeria Police Special Study Centre Kubwa Abuja | KUBWA | FCT |
| Nigeria Security And Civil Defencespecial Study Centre Sauka Abuja | SAUKA | FCT |
| Nigerian Prison Services Special Study Centre Kuje Abuja | KUJE | FCT |
| Viite Special Study Centre Abuja | KWALI | FCT |
| Wuse II Study Centre Abuja | WUSE II | FCT |
| National Assembly Special Study Centre Abuja | ABUJA | FCT |
| Gombe Study Centre | GOMBE | GOMBE |
| Owerri Study Centre | OWERRI | IMO |
| Dutse Study Centre | DUTSE | JIGAWA |
| Kebbi Study Centre | KEBBI | KEBBI |
| Kaduna Study Centre | ZARIA | KADUNA |
| Kagoro Study Centre | KAGORO | KADUNA |
| Nigerian Air Force Special Study Centre Kaduna | AIR FORCE BASE | KADUNA |
| Idah Community Study Centre | IDAH | KOGI |
| Iyara Community Study Centre | IYARA | KOGI |
| Lokoja Study Centre | LOKOJA | KOGI |
| Ogori Community Study Centre | OGORI | KOGI |
| Kano Study Centre | SAUNA-DAKATA | KANO |
| Batsari Community Study Centre | BATSARI | KASTINA |
| Kastina Study Centre | KASTINA | KASTINA |
| Ilorin Study Centre | KULENDE | KWARA |
| Nigeria Army Special Study Centre Ilorin | SOBI | KWARA |
| Oka-Akoko Community Study Centre | OKA AKOKO | KWARA |
| Offa Community Study Centre | OFFA | KWARA |
| Lagos Study Centre | IKEJA | LAGOS |
| Mccarthy Study Centre Lagos | OBALENDE | LAGOS |
| Mushin Study Centre Lagos | MATORI | LAGOS |
| Nigeria Navy Special Study Centre Lagos | APAPA | LAGOS |
| Nigerian Medium Security Prisons Special Study Centre Kirikiri Lagos | LAGOS | LAGOS |
| Minna Study Centre | MINNA | NIGER |
| Lafia Study Centre | LAFIA | NASARAWA |
| Abeokuta Study Centre | ABEOKUTA | OGUN |
| Awa-Ijebu Community Study Centre | IJEBU AWA | OGUN |
| Ado-Ekiti Study Centre | ADO-EKITI | EKITI |
| Akure Study Centre | IDANRE | OSUN |
| Iwo Study Centre | IWO | OSUN |
| Osogbo Study Centre | OSHOGBO | OSUN |
| Otan-Ayegbaju Community Study Centre | OTAN-AYEGBAJU | OYO |
| Ibadan Study Centre | SANGO-ELEYELE | OYO |
| Jos Study Centre | SABON BARKI | JOS |
| Nigerian Prisons Special Study Centre Port-Harcourt | PORT HARCOURT | RIVERS |
| Portharcourt Study Centre | IRIEBE | RIVERS |
| Sokoto Study Centre | SOKOTO | SOKOTO |
| Jalingo Study Centre | JALINGO | TARABA |
| Wukari Study Centre | WUKARI | TARABA |
| Damaturu Study Centre | DAMATURU | YOBE |
| Gusau Study Centre | GUSAU | ZAMFARA |
| Apapa Study Centre | APAPA | LAGOS |
| Boluwaduru Community Study Centre | BOLUWADURU | OSUN |
| Nigerian Female Prison Special Study Centre Kirikiri | LAGOS | LAGOS |
| Nigerian Maximum Security Prison Special Study Centre Kirikiri | IKOYI | LAGOS |
| Nigeria Prison Service Special Study Centre Awka | KEFFI | NASARAWA |
| Nigeria Prison Service Special Study Centre Ikoyi | LAGOS | LAGOS |
| Nigeria Prison Service Special Study Centre Keffi | LAGOS | LAGOA |
| Opi Community Study Centre Nsuka | NSUKA | ENUGU |
National Open University Courses
Are you interested in a certification program that allows you to study at your own pace? It would be best to investigate NOUN, Nigeria’s National Open University. Regardless of your academic interests or career aspirations, NOUN has a course for you among its more than a hundred available options.
The national open university courses are divided into three categories: undergraduate, graduate certificate, and graduate diploma.
All Undergraduate Programmes Offered at the National Open University
Below are the undergraduate courses offered at the National Open University;
- BSc. Mathematics
- BSc. Computer and Mathematics (Combined Hons)
- BSc. Computer Science
- BSc. Data Management
- BSc. Communications Technology
- BSc. Agricultural Extension and Management
- BSc. Nursing Science
- BSc. Community Health
- BSc. Environmental Science and Resource Management (ESM)
- BSc. Financial Mathematics
- BSc. Physics
- BSc. Chemistry
- BSc. Biology
- B.Sc. Community Health
- B.Sc. Dental Technology
- B.Sc. Environmental Health
- Agric. Agricultural Economics and Agro Business
- B. Agric. Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
- B. Agric. Animal Science
- B. Agric. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management
- B. Agric. Soil and Land Resources Management
- B. Agric. Crop Production and Protection Sciences
- LL.B (Law)
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Agricultural Science
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Biology
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Chemistry
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Integrated Science
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Computer Science
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Mathematics
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Physics
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Business Education
- B.A (Ed.) Early Childhood Education
- B.A (Ed.) English
- B.A (Ed.) French
- B.A (Ed.) Primary Education
- B.Sc. Cooperatives Management
- B.Sc. Entrepreneurship
- B.Sc. Accounting (in Collaboration with ICAN)
- B.Sc. Hospitality Management
- B.Sc. Criminology and Security Studies
- B.A Christian Theology
- B.Sc. Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
- B.A. English
- B.A French and International Relations
- B.Sc. Mass Communication
- B.A Islamic Studies
- B.Sc. Political Science
List of postgraduate programmes offered in NOUN
Below is the list of postgraduate programmes offered in National Open University;
- MSC. Information Technology
- PGD. Information Technology
- PGD Legislative Drafting
- PGD. Mobile (Wireless) Communication Technology
- PGD. HIV/AIDS
- PDG. Agric and Extension
- PGD HIV/AIDS Education and Management
- M.Ed. Educational Administration and Planning
- PGD Agricultural Extension and Management
- Education (PGDE)
- PGD. Digital Communication
- Dist. Edu (PGDDE)
- M.Ed. Science Education
- M.Ed. Educational Technology
- PhD Educational Administration
- PhD Educational Planning
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- PhD Educational Technology,
- PhD Mathematics Education
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- PhD Science Education.
- PGD Financial Management
- Master of Science Public Sector Management
- PGD in Public Administration
- PGD in Business Administration
- Master of Science Public Administration
- PGD in Criminology and Security Studies
- PGD in Journalism and Mass Communication
- Master of Science Business Administration
- PGD in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution,
- PGD in Christian Theology.
- M.Sc. Mass Communication
- M.Sc. Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
- PhD in English (Language/ Literature)
List of Certificate Programmes Offered in National Open University
- Proficiency Certificate in Call Centre Skills
- Mobile Phone Repair
- University (Academic) Certificate Programmes
- Computer Literacy
- Dental Office Practice
- Arabic and Islamic Studies
- Christian Theology
- French
- Hotel and Catering Management
- Business Administration
List of Diploma Programmes Offered in NOUN
Below is the list of diploma courses offered at the National Open University of Nigeria;
- Business Communication
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial Management
- Marketing
- Medical Office Practice
- Arabic and Islamic Studies
- Christian Theology
- French
- Hotel and Catering Management
The National Open University of Nigeria Course requirements
Be sure you meet the prerequisites for your chosen course before applying. Here are some of the most common prerequisites for classes at NOUN:
Undergraduate Admission
At least five A-grade passes in the O-level, including English Language and Mathematics.
Therefore, if you want to know if you meet the entrance standards for your course, visit the NOUN website and select the faculty, program, and entry-level you’re interested in.
Postgraduate Admission
- NOUN requires a minimum of 5 O-Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics, and a first degree (second class lower) for a master’s or HND for PGD in a comparable discipline from any accredited institution.
You can check if you meet the entry requirements for your desired course by visiting the NOUN website and selecting the appropriate faculty, program, and entry-level.
Ph.D Programme
- All applicants must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field from The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) or another university approved by NOUN’s Senate.
Note: All Ph.D. candidates must undergo oral and written interviews; specific departments may require a higher CGPA than others.
- In addition, applicants for the PhD/MPhil must have a cumulative GPA (CGPA) between 3.50 and 5.00. A Master’s degree in a relevant field from The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) or another institution approved by the NOUN Senate is required.
- In addition, candidates will be interviewed verbally and in writing.
Make sure you match the criteria listed here and graduate from NOUN, renowned globally for its high-quality education.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the curriculum at The National Open University of Nigeria is a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a flexible and reasonably priced route to a bachelor’s or higher degree. When compared to other colleges and institutions in the country, the tuition is cheap, and the courses are excellent.
In addition, NOUN provides access to various online educational materials and opportunities for students from all areas of life. Take your career to the next level by enrolling in a degree program like NOUN.
Frequently Asked Questions
You have many inquiries regarding NOUN’s curriculum, tuition, and entry criteria. We have created a list of frequently asked questions and their answers to aid you.
How long does it take to become proficient in NOUN?
The majority of NOUN’s programs last for four years.
Is NOUN full-time or part-time?
There is no such thing as part-time study at Nigeria’s National Open University. Full-time study for the required number of hours each week is mandatory. You can work and go to school if you arrange your time well.
Do NOUN students receive lectures?
As an Open and Distance Learning university, The National Open University of Nigeria does not follow the standard lecture format. However, it has locations nationwide where students can go for help. However, it does have locations across the country where students can go for help. Students can access various study resources, including books, audio and videotapes, television and radio broadcasts, compact discs, and programmable ROMs. Online courses are also available.
