"Rethink Our Systems": Prof. Inegbedion Advocates for Learner-Centric Reforms at NOUN 38th Inaugural Lecture

Prof. Obhajajie Juliet Inegbedion, a Professor of Educational Administration at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has called for a fundamental redesign of open education to accommodate the increasingly diverse profiles of modern learners.

Delivering the 38th Inaugural Lecture of the University, titled “Breaking Barriers: Planning and Expanding the Frontiers of the Open University,” on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Prof. Inegbedion emphasized that the survival and relevance of open universities depend on their ability to move beyond rhetoric and embrace transformative pedagogical shifts.

Addressing an audience at the NOUN Conference Centre, the Don argued that open education is not a monolith but a multifaceted system encompassing open courses, open science, and open technology. She noted that true "openness" requires the proactive removal of emotional, linguistic, and connectivity barriers that frequently hinder students in non-traditional settings.

“To fulfill our mandate in the 21st century, we must rethink our systems, redesign our policies, and re-imagine our future,” she stated. She reminded stakeholders that open universities were established to democratize education and dismantle structural inequalities across age, gender, and socio-economic divides.