By Abbas Nazil
President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, will deliver the 14th Convocation Lecture of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The lecture, which is scheduled for Friday, 11th April 2025, at the university’s ultra-modern conference centre in Jabi, Abuja, is themed “Advancing Africa’s Positioning within Global Development and Geopolitical Dynamics.”
Dr. Adesina, who was Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, will provide insights into the continent’s evolving role in international affairs, economic progress, and strategic positioning.
A statement signed by the university’s Registrar, Mr. Oladipo A. Ajayi, said the convocation ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the university’s Convocation Arena in Jabi, Abuja, from 10am.
He said the event for the award of academic degrees will be conducted in a hybrid format, accommodating both on-site and off-site participants.
According to the statement, only specific categories of graduates will be physically present at the Abuja headquarters for the on-site ceremony.
These include first-class graduates, all first-degree recipients from study centres within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), postgraduate diplomas, master’s and doctoral degree recipients, as well as honorary doctorate awardees.
Mr. Ajayi said other first-degree graduates from study centres outside the FCT will hold their convocation ceremonies at their respective state capital study centres.
This decentralized approach, according to him, is intended to make the event accessible to all graduates, regardless of their location, ensuring broad participation in the celebration of their academic achievements.
NOUN’s convocation remains a significant event in Nigeria’s higher education landscape, bringing together distinguished guests, faculty, and students to honour academic excellence.
With Dr. Adesina, as the keynote speaker, the event is expected to be intellectually stimulating and impactful, offering a deeper understanding of Africa’s global standing and future opportunities.