Claim

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, stated that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is “the only institution approved to offer university degrees through open and online learning in the country.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Minister had in recent interview with the online platform DCL English, claimed that only the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was accredited to offer university degrees through the open and online learning mode.

The remark has sparked criticism from parents and education stakeholders, who are demanding a public apology and retraction from the Minister.

Verdict: MISLEADING

While NOUN is Nigeria’s pioneer single-mode Open and Distance Learning (ODL) university, it is not the only institution approved to award degrees through online or open learning modes. Besides NOUN and Miva Open University – the only two single-mode ODL universities – the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved more than 30 conventional universities to operate Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL) centres, enabling them to offer accredited degree programmes through online and distance-learning models alongside their campus-based programmes.

The Facts

The confusion appears to stem from the distinction between single-mode ODL universities and universities that also deliver programmes online.

NOUN describes itself as Nigeria’s foremost Open and Distance Learning institution and is widely recognised as the country’s only single-mode ODL university, meaning it was established solely to provide education through distance learning.

However, this does not mean that no other university has regulatory approval to offer degree programmes online.

A fact-check by The Guardian shows that the Minister’s claim does not align with the current regulatory records of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Although NOUN remains Nigeria’s only federal single-mode Open and Distance Learning (ODL) university, it is not the only institution approved to offer accredited degree programmes through online and distance-learning models.

Checks on the website of the National Universities Commission (NUC) indicate that the Commission has approved 34 universities to operate accredited Open and Distance Learning (ODeL) centres across the country. These comprise federal, state and private universities that have received NUC approval to run degree programmes through distance and online learning modes.

Among them are the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Abuja, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ilorin, University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt, Bayero University Kano, Covenant University, Nile University Abuja, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Delta State University, Nasarawa State University, Caleb University, Al-Hikmah University and several others.

In addition to these approved ODeL centres, the NUC has also licensed private open universities, including Miva Open University, further demonstrating that NOUN is no longer the only university operating under an open and online learning model.

Why the claim is misleading

The minister’s statement would have been accurate had it referred to NOUN as the country’s only single-mode federal Open and Distance Learning university.

However, by stating that NOUN is “the only institution approved to offer university degrees through open and online learning”, the claim overlooks the 34 other NUC-licensed universities that legally offer accredited online or distance-learning degree programmes, including Miva Open University and distance-learning centres in conventional universities.

Conclusion

NOUN remains one of Nigeria’s dedicated single-mode Open and Distance Learning (ODL) universities, alongside Miva Open University. However, they are not the only institutions authorised to offer university degrees through online or open learning. In addition to these two single-mode ODL universities, 34 other universities approved by the NUC deliver accredited degree programmes through Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL) centres and other online and distance-learning models.