The National Open University ( NOUN ) Law students are in a state of crisis following the university management’s decision to scrap the law programme, leaving over 1000 students, many of whom are nearing completion of their projects, in a difficult position. Documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that on January 25, 2023, the University’s Senate ratified the decision to end the law degree programme at the conclusion of the 2023 second semester.
In response to this development, students under the aegis of “concerned law students” wrote to the House of Representatives seeking intervention. On October 27, 2023, the House acknowledged their call and promised to facilitate a meeting between student representatives and the university management. Despite meetings held between November 2023 and January 2024, no meaningful progress has been achieved.
We that over 1500 final-year students are affected by the decision, risking their graduation after investing millions of naira in their education. Reports indicate that it costs approximately N3 million for a law student to reach the 500 level at NOUN. Many students have expressed frustration over the university’s failure to issue graduation certificates and hold convocations, leaving them without formal evidence of their academic achievements.
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Although the university has denied certain allegations, NOUN, which operates on a distance-learning and study center model, has faced ongoing controversies regarding accreditation and management issues. Students claim that the university fails to communicate significant developments and address their concerns, which impacts their academic progress.
A student, who chose to remain anonymous, noted that news of the law programme’s termination was first seen on social media without any official communication from the university. “We were not notified, we only saw a statement on social media suggesting that the law programme would be stopped after we spent how many years on it and no one has offered any form of apology or genuine concern,” the student stated.
It has also been reported that the university plans to halt the admission of new law students to seek fresh accreditation for the programme. This decision threatens the dreams and investments of the current 500-level law students, who have devoted five years to their studies. When contacted for comment, NOUN’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Sheme, declined to comment, suggesting instead a visit to his office.
This situation has left many students uncertain about their future, with their careers hanging in the balance. The call for intervention continues as these students seek a resolution that will allow them to complete their education and achieve their professional aspirations.
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