Law students at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) are calling for urgent help following the university management’s decision to discontinue its law program, leaving many students nearing the completion of their projects in a state of uncertainty.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that the university’s Senate ratified the decision to scrap the law degree program on January 25, 2023, effective at the end of the second semester of 2023.
In response to this development, students under the banner of “Concerned Law Students” wrote to the House of Representatives seeking intervention. The House acknowledged their plea in a letter dated October 27, 2023, promising to arrange a meeting between student representatives and the university management.
Despite a series of meetings held between November 2023 and January 2024, no significant progress has been made. Over 1,500 final-year law students are affected by this decision, risking non-graduation after investing substantial amounts in their education.
Reports indicate that it costs approximately N3 million for a law student to reach the 500 level at NOUN. The institution has faced criticism for not issuing graduation certificates and failing to hold convocations, leaving students without proof of their academic achievements.
The university has been embroiled in controversies related to accreditation and management issues. Students complain about the lack of communication from the university regarding important developments affecting their academic progress.
One anonymous student expressed frustration, stating, “We were not notified; we only saw a statement on social media suggesting that the law program would be stopped after we spent many years on it, and no one has offered any form of apology or genuine concern.”
The university plans to halt the admission of new law students to seek fresh accreditation for the program, but this move jeopardizes the current 500-level law students’ legal aspirations and their five-year investment.
When contacted, NOUN’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Sheme, declined to comment, directing SaharaReporters to visit his office for more information.