The National Open University of Nigeria has announced a renewed effort to strengthen its study centres and improve the support provided to learners across the country.
The university discussed the initiative during a Study Centre Staff Retreat held at the Uyo Study Centre in Akwa Ibom State on Monday, 24 August 2026.
Study centres remain particularly important to NOUN students because they serve as the most direct physical connection between learners and the university. Students commonly depend on their centres for information, clarification, counselling, examination assistance, administrative guidance and help with academic requests.
However, this announcement represents a commitment to improving learner support. NOUN has not introduced a new complaint portal, guaranteed response time or nationwide implementation timetable.
WHAT NOUN ANNOUNCED
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Uduma Oji Uduma, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor responsible for academics, Professor Chiedu Mafiana, said restoring study centres to their proper position was a priority of the current administration.
He explained that the quality of services available at study centres influences the overall performance of the university because most students interact with their centres more frequently than with NOUN’s headquarters.
The retreat was organised to train personnel, encourage interaction between study-centre staff and university management, and identify areas where policies or administrative practices may require adjustment.
NOUN also said it was working toward stronger collaboration and networking among study centres across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
WHY STUDY CENTRES MATTER
Many NOUN students combine education with employment, businesses, family responsibilities and other commitments. When they encounter an academic or administrative problem, travelling repeatedly to a study centre can consume time and money.
The quality of study-centre assistance may affect guidance concerning:
• Registration and academic records.
• Course or examination issues.
• Payment-related documentation.
• Counselling and academic support.
• Portal and ICT difficulties.
• Requests requiring attention from another university department.
• General information about university procedures.
The Director of Learner Support Services, Professor Tessy Angba, described study centres as places where many students obtain information, clarification, guidance and other assistance throughout their academic journeys.
She also emphasised that students remember whether personnel listened to them, treated them respectfully and helped them resolve their difficulties.
STAFF INVOLVED IN LEARNER SUPPORT
Learner support is not limited to centre directors or counsellors. Personnel working in administration, examinations, counselling, ICT, finance, academic support, security and other areas contribute directly or indirectly to students’ experiences.
The retreat brought together study-centre directors, heads of administration, counsellors, accountants and ICT personnel to discuss ways of improving these services.
COORDINATION THROUGH LEARNER SUPPORT SERVICES
NOUN management reiterated that activities and materials moving to and from study centres should be coordinated through the Directorate of Learner Support Services.
This could improve consistency and accountability if implemented effectively. Students should still follow the official procedure provided by their study centre. The announcement did not create a separate student submission channel or authorise students to bypass their centres.
POSSIBLE EXAMINATION-CENTRE IMPLICATIONS
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor stated that examinations had been conducted at some study centres where such examinations did not previously take place. This may reduce travel difficulties for students attached to affected centres.
However, the official announcement did not identify the centres involved or confirm that every study centre would become an examination venue. Students should not assume that their examination location has changed. They should rely on official examination information before making travel or accommodation arrangements.
WHAT HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED
NOUN did not announce:
• A new student-complaint portal.
• A guaranteed period for resolving complaints.
• A complete list of newly enabled examination centres.
• New study-centre telephone numbers or email addresses.
• A nationwide implementation deadline.
• A policy allowing students to disregard existing procedures.
HOW TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE EFFECTIVELY
Before contacting a study centre, prepare:
• Your full name and matriculation number.
• Your programme and study centre.
• The affected course code or academic session.
• Payment reference or receipt where applicable.
• A screenshot showing the exact portal error.
• The date the problem started.
• Copies of relevant forms or previous correspondence.
• A short explanation of the assistance required.
Remove passwords, card details and one-time codes from screenshots. Keep copies of submitted documents and note the office handling your request.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM UNOFFICIAL AGENTS
An improvement in learner support does not authorise anyone to collect unofficial payments or request students’ portal credentials.
Do not pay a personal bank account to accelerate an official request, disclose your portal password or payment-card information, send sensitive documents to an unverified WhatsApp number, or believe anyone promising guaranteed resolution.
Confirm approved payment channels and preserve transaction references whenever money is required for an official process.
WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD EXPECT NEXT
The immediate outcome of the retreat is expected to be better understanding and coordination among personnel responsible for learner support. The real effect will become clearer through students’ experiences at their respective centres.
NOUN Update will monitor any later announcement concerning learner-support channels, complaint procedures, study-centre service standards, examination venues and updated contact information.
For now, this development should be viewed as a positive institutional commitment rather than confirmation that every study-centre problem has already been resolved.
OFFICIAL SOURCE
The details about the retreat, its participants, examination activity at some centres and the university’s learner-support priorities come from NOUN’s official report published on 25 August 2026:
https://nounnews.nou.edu.ng/index.php/article/noun-reaffirms-commitment-stronger-study-centres-improved-learner-support
