Why NOUN Graduates Are Not Qualified To Participate in NYSC

The Former Dean of the School of Arts and Social
Sciences at the National Open University of
Nigeria (NOUN), and currently the Provost,
Michael Otedola College of Primary Education,
Epe, Lagos State, Professor Olu Akeusola while
speaking with journalist disclosed reasons why
graduates of Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)
are not qualified to participate in National Youth
Service Corps.

In his words, “You see, we have the tendency of
misinterpreting concepts. NOUN isn’t meant for
regular students. It is not meant for anybody that
has just finished his secondary education.”
NOUN is a flexible programme meant for adults –
meant for the working class. It is for people who
have sufficient experience, but want academic
knowledge and certificates to back up what they
are doing.”
“NOUN got it wrong when they started admitting
students that are JAMB drop-outs—people who
are unable to go to conventional universities
through JAMB; and then also fresh secondary
school graduates. Automatically, they would be
agitating that they want to serve, after all, they
are graduates."
"But the question you should ask is: If we are
talking about NOUN as flexible, what about
graduates from sandwich programmes? Are they
serving? So, what makes NOUN different from
sandwich? The only difference is that sandwich is
done only during the holidays and it is like part-
time. NOUN is flexible, but then, they both don’t
receive lectures everyday. They both don’t do
face-to-face lectures.”