The National Open University of Nigeria is a Federal Open Distance Learning university set up by the government to facilitate education at tertiary level. It was the first of its kind on the coast of West Africa. The National open university of Nigeria arguably is the largest higher institution in Nigeria in terms of student population.
The university came into existence in July 1983 and till now runs with the mandate of top notch university education to the doorstep of every Nigerian. To this end the university has a reputation of providing flexible, cost-effective, functional and accessible education to improve the lot of the Nigerian population.
The establishment of National open university of Nigeria was the brain child of the then president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari. His aim was to give education to to all and sundry status and age as long as they are qualified
Sadly, in 1984, the government of general Buhari suspended the activities of the school with the claim that the action was corrupt.
Happily, in 2002, President Olusegun Obasanjo brought back the national Open University of Nigeria to life. The university offers several programs which provide different certificates on completion of necessary requirements.
National Open University of Nigeria- Objectives
The following are the objectives of the Open University of Nigeria:
- Provision of Education for All and promotion of lifelong learning
- Filling the gap created by the closure of outreaches/satellite campuses
- Cost effectiveness
- Improved economies of scale
- Flexibility of delivery system
- Maximum utilization of academic personnel
- On the job teacher training
- Poverty eradication, vocational and lifelong education
- Provision of non-formal education
- Reaching the unreached
- Propagation of national orientation
National Open University of Nigeria – Faculties
Currently there are 7 faculties in the Open University of Nigeria. They include:
- Faculties of Science and Technology
- Faculties of Health Science
- Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences
- Faculties of Education
- Faculty of Management Sciences
- Centre for Life-Long Learning and Workplace Training
- Academic Certificate Programmes
National Open University of Nigeria- Courses
The National Open University of Nigeria has about 75 study centers scattered all around the country. The school offers about 50 programs with a total of about 750 courses. All of the courses offered in the university have been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The following are the courses offered by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN):
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School of Arts And Social Science
| i. | Undergraduate Degree Programmes | Programme Code |
| a) | B.Sc. Criminology and Security Studies | 2201 |
| b) | B.Sc. Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 2202 |
| c) | B.Sc. Mass Communication | 2204 |
| d) | B.A. English | 2205 |
| e) | B.A French and International Relations | 2206 |
| f) | B.A Christian Theology | 2207 |
| g) | B.A Islamic Studies | 2208 |
| h) | B.Sc. Political Science | 2211 |
| i) | B.Sc. Economics | 2212 |
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Postgraduate Diploma Programmes
| a) | Criminology and Security Studies | 2301 |
| b) | Journalism and Mass Communication | 2302 |
| c) | Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 2303 |
| d) | Christian Theology | 2305 |
Masters Degree Programmes
| a) | Sc. Mass Communication | 2401 |
| a) | Sc. Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 2402 |
Postgraduate Diploma Programmes
| a) | Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) | 4301 |
| a) | Postgraduate Diploma in Distance Education (PGDDE) | 4302 |
iii. Masters of Education (M.Ed.) Programmes
| a) | Educational Administration and Planning | 4401 |
| b) | Educational Administration and Planning Science Education | 4402 |
| c) | Educational Technology | 4403 |
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Programmes (By Research)
English (Language/ Literature) 2505
School of Agricultural Science
| Undergraduate Programme | Programme Code | |
| a) | B. Agric. Agricultural Economics and Agro Business | 4203 |
| b) | B. Agric. Agricultural Extension and Rural Development | 4204 |
| c) | B. Agric. Animal Science | 4205 |
| d) | B. Agric. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management | 4206 |
| e) | B. Agric. Soil and Land Resources Management | 7205 |
| h) | B. Agric. Crop Production and protection Sciences | 7206 |
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) Programme
PGD Agricultural Extension and Management 5301/7301
School of Education
Science Education
| a) | B.Sc. (Ed.) Agricultural Science | 4201 |
| b) | B.Sc. (Ed.) Biology | 4202 |
| c) | B.Sc. (Ed.) Chemistry | 4203 |
| d) | B.Sc. (Ed.) Integrated Science | 4204 |
| e) | B.Sc. (Ed.) Computer Science | 4205 |
| f) | B.Sc. (Ed.) Mathematics | 4206 |
| g) | B.Sc. (Ed.) Physics | 4207 |
| h) | B.Sc. (Ed.) Business Education | 4212 |
Master of Science Business Administration
| a) | Master of Science Business Administration | 3416 |
Arts & Humanities Education
| S/N | Undergraduate Degree Programmes | Programme Code |
| a) | B.A (Ed.) Early Childhood Education | 4208 |
| b) | B.A (Ed.) English | 4209 |
| c) | B.A (Ed.) French | 4210 |
| d) | B.A (Ed.) Primary Education | 2411 |
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Programme (By Course Work and Research)
| Programmes | Programme Codes | |
| a) | Educational Administration | 4501 |
| b) | Educational Planning | 4502 |
| c) | Educational Technology | 4503 |
School of Science And Technology
| Undergraduate Programmes | Programme Code |
| B.Sc. Computer Science | 5202 |
| B.Sc. Communication Technology | 5203 |
| B.Sc. Data Management | 5204 |
| B.Sc. Environmental Science & Resource Management | 5205 |
| B.Sc. Mathematics | 5208 |
| B.Sc. Mathematics/Computer | 5209 |
| B.Sc. Chemistry | 5212 |
| B.Sc. Biology | 5213 |
| B.Sc. Physics | 5214 |
| B.Sc. Financial Mathematics | 5215 |
Postgraduate Diploma Programmes
| a) | Digital Communications | 5302 |
| b) | Mobile Communications Technology (Wireless) | 5304 |
| c) | Information Technology | 5305 |
Masters Degree Programme
| a) | Information Technology (with Internet Options) | 5401 |
School of Health Science
| Undergraduate Programme | Programme Codes | |
| a) | B.Sc. Community Health | 5211/8201 |
| b) | B.Sc. Dental Technology | 8202 |
| c) | B.Sc. Environmental Health | 8203 |
| d) | Mathematics Education | 4504 |
| e) | Science Education | 4505 |
Postgraduate Diploma Programme
| a) | PGD HIV/AIDS Education and Management | 5303/8301 |
NOUN School of Law
| i) | Undergraduate programme | Programme Code |
| a) | LLB (Law) Degree programme | 6201 |
NOUN Postgraduate Diploma Programme
| a) | Legislative Drafting | 6301 |
School of Management Science
| i | Undergraduate Programme | Programme Code |
| b) | B.Sc. Cooperatives Management | 3201 |
| c) | B.Sc. Entrepreneurship | 3204 |
| d) | B.Sc. Accounting (in Collaboration with ICAN) | 3205 |
| e) | B.Sc. Hospitality Management | 3206 |
Postgraduate Diploma Programmes
| a) | Financial Management | 3309 |
| b) | Public Administration | 3311 |
| c) | Business Administration | 3313 |
NOUN Management Science Masters Degree Programmes
| a) | Master of Public Administration (MPA) | 3411 |
| b) | Master of Business Administration (MBA) | 3413 |
| c) | Master of Science Public Sector Management | 3414 |
| d) | Master of Science Public Administration | 3415 |
Center For Lifelong Learning (CLL)
Certificate Programmes
| i. | Proficiency Certificate Programmes |
|
| a) | Call Centre Skills | 0004 |
| b) | Mobile Phone Repair | 0005 |
University (Academic) Certificate Programmes
| a) | Computer Literacy | 1004 |
| b) | Dental Office Practice | 1017 |
| c) | Arabic and Islamic Studies | 1022 |
| d) | Christian Theology | 1023 |
| e) | French | 1024 |
| f) | Hotel and Catering Management | 1025 |
Diploma Programmes
| a) | Business Communication | 1201 |
| b) | Entrepreneurship | 1205 |
| c) | Financial Management | 1206 |
| d) | Marketing | 1207 |
| e) | Medical Office Practice | 1208 |
| f) | Arabic and Islamic Studies | 1218 |
Technological platforms of the Open University of Nigeria of Nigeria
- The university developed an iLearn platform to facilitate smooth students learning experience. The platform creates ease of access to excellent education. It provides the following:
- Online class discussions organized by NOUN facilitators.
- Provision of answers to questions asked by students especially on difficult issues regarding their courses of study.
- Collaboration tools to allow for communication among students, facilitators, faculty members, etc.
- More efficient study tools, audio and video resources, online materials that can be printed or downloaded.
- Access to assignments, quizzes and self-study assessment tools.
National Open University of Nigeria- Exams
The university conducts its exams using the Computer Based Test method for the initial two years of study. The only faculty that is exempted is Law which conducts pen-on-paper exams from year 1 of study. Other courses start POP exam format from the third year of study till they round up their programmes.
National Open University of Nigeria- Facilities
The Open University of Nigeria provides the students the following facilities:
- E-library
- Radio station
- E-courseware
The university also offers scholarships to students based on requirements prescribed by the Vice Chancellor.
How to Apply to Open University of Nigeria
To apply to the university take the following steps:
- Visit the site www.nouonline.net
- On the Home Page, go to the Menu Bar, Click on Apply for Admission
- Select either Undergraduate Programme or Postgraduate Programme. Other programme is not available at the moment
- Goto “Choose Faculty” (note it can be found at the left hand side of the screen)
- Select Faculty
- Fill displayed form
- Click below to view admission criteria
- Click “Apply” to proceed.
- Take note of the UNIQUE ID displayed
- Click ‘Continue’ button
- Select Bank Branch as payment type
- Click “Pay”
- Copy and take your RRR number to any bank branch for payment.
After payment
- Perform step 1 to 3
- Goto “Continue After Payment”
- Input Unique ID, RRR number and Programme
- Click “Proceed”
- Fill Form. Note: all fields marked with red star are compulsory.
After filling the form
- Click “Submit”
- Print Admission Letter
- Visit the nearest study center for screening
National Open University of Nigeria – Final Words
If you are considering furthering your studies, then National Open University of Nigeria is a good option. More especially, if you’re a very busy person. The study pattern is flexible and the fee is affordable.
Above all, all the courses they offer are NUC accredited, which is the highest body that regulates universities in Nigeria. So, feel free to increase your knowledge in your area of endeavor from the Open University of Nigeria
