The National Open University of Nigeria (National Open University of Nigeria) and the Nigerian Army (Nigerian Army) have renewed their institutional collaboration with plans to expand special study centres and strengthen academic programmes tailored to the evolving needs of military personnel.
The agreement was reaffirmed on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General W. Shaibu, at Army Headquarters. The engagement focused on deepening educational access for officers and men of the Nigerian Army while aligning military training with contemporary academic and technological demands.
Central to the discussions was the proposed expansion of special study centres, including a revitalisation of the Sobi, Kwara State centre and enhanced cooperation with the Nigerian Army University, Biu (Nigerian Army University Biu). Both institutions agreed that strengthening these platforms would significantly improve capacity development within the armed forces.
Prof. Uduma highlighted the strategic importance of Open and Distance Learning, noting that NOUN’s performance during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown underscored its resilience and national relevance. He also recalled that the partnership, which began in 2006 with the establishment of the Sobi Special Study Centre, has produced over 2,000 graduates from the military, with more than 700 personnel currently enrolled.
However, the Vice-Chancellor expressed concern over the deteriorating state of infrastructure at the Sobi centre, particularly outdated ICT facilities, and called for urgent intervention to upgrade the facility to meet modern standards.
In response, Lt. General Shaibu commended NOUN for its innovative approach to education delivery, describing it as a “revolutionary model.” He emphasized the need for clearer mechanisms to assess the post-graduation impact of beneficiaries to guide future investments in the partnership.
The Army Chief also directed relevant departments to fast-track plans for upgrading the Sobi centre and strengthening academic collaboration with the Nigerian Army University, Biu. He further expressed the Army’s interest in expanding engagement in specialised areas such as intelligence analysis and cybersecurity, in line with emerging global security challenges.
Shaibu additionally revealed that senior officers have shown interest in establishing NOUN community study centres in various localities, as part of the Army’s broader community engagement strategy.
The meeting was attended by senior Army officers and top NOUN management officials, including Deputy Vice-Chancellors Prof. Shehu Adamu and Prof. Christine Ofulue, the Registrar Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, the Bursar Mallam Nasiru Marafa, and the University Librarian Prof. Angela Okpala, among others.
Observers said the renewed partnership underscores a growing synergy between academia and the military aimed at strengthening national security through education and human capital development.
