NOUN students lament inability to access portal

Students of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) have expressed frustration over their inability to access the university’s portal.

Some of the aggrieved students lamented they have not been able to access the portal to check their results for over three weeks.

The university had instructed students to visit the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for regularisation of their results and documents.

A 300-level student in the Computer Science Department, Deborah Agu, said she had not been able to access the portal to check her results for the past three weeks.

Agu said: “I was shocked when the portal displayed ‘matric number not found on NOUN list’ during my login attempts. I’ve been using the number for over four years, but now, it’s not recognised.

JAMB had last July, directed prospective students applying to NOUN and other open distance learning centres to register through the agency, as part of efforts to check fraudulent activities and maintain the integrity of candidates’ records.

The examination body, in its advisory, restated its commitment to streamlining the registration process.

The advisory stated: “To combat fraudulent activities and ensure the accuracy of candidates’ records, JAMB mandates that all applicants seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions must provide their National Identification Number (NIN) during registration, regardless of the study mode, whether regular or non-regular.”

However, Agu stated that he did not gain admission through JAMB.

Another student, Jennifer Nwanchukwu, said despite completing her JAMB regularisation, she still could not access her results from the last semester.

“As a final-year student, I cannot afford to lose all the years I’ve invested in this school. NOUN needs to resolve this issue and restore access to the portal for me and my fellow students.”

Another student, Michael Sunday, recounted his experience: “Two weeks ago, a course mate alerted me about the regularisation issue and that many students’ matric numbers were missing from the NOUN platform. When I checked, my matric number was also missing.

“I haven’t gone to JAMB for regularisation yet because many students who have done so are still unable to access the portal. I’m at my wits end and just watching things unfold. NOUN, please help us.”

When contacted, officials of NOUN promised to get back to The Guardian but are yet to do so as at press time.