Obasanjo Demands AI Revolution and Legal Revival at NOUN

ABEOKUTA, Nigeria — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has thrown down the gauntlet to the leadership of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), calling for an aggressive modernization of the institution’s curriculum and the immediate restoration of its controversial Law programme.

The elder statesman made these remarks on Sunday, February 22, 2026, while receiving the newly minted Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Uduma, at his residence in Abeokuta. Obasanjo, who is himself a celebrated alumnus of the university, insisted that the institution must evolve or risk falling behind the global academic curve.

Obasanjo’s vision for NOUN isn’t just about traditional textbooks; it’s about the digital frontier. He urged the management to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the core of its academic systems to bridge the gap in distance learning.+1

“I urge the university’s leadership to prioritise modernisation and expand access to quality education,” Obasanjo stated, stressing that technology is the key to unlocking mass enrollment.

For years, the NOUN Law programme has faced hurdles regarding recognition by the Council of Legal Education. Obasanjo’s call to bring it back marks a major push for the university to resolve these legacy issues and provide a flexible pathway for aspiring legal minds.

Prof. Uduma Uduma, the incoming VC, didn’t hesitate to accept the challenge. He pledged that the revival of the Law programme would be a cornerstone of his administration’s agenda, alongside consolidating existing reforms.

Prof. Peters noted that the university’s move toward AI-driven content has already earned it significant international accolades, setting a solid foundation for Prof. Uduma to build upon.

Following the high-level meeting with Obasanjo, the new Vice-Chancellor visited the Abeokuta Study Centre, where he inspected facilities alongside the Centre Director, Mr. Oyekunle Adegboyega. The visit signals a “boots-on-the-ground” approach to ensuring that the former President’s vision for a tech-savvy, legally-empowered NOUN becomes a reality.