The National Universities Commission has announced plans to review the exclusion of graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria from the National Youth Service Corps scheme following a sharp rise in the number of young students enrolling in the institution.

Executive Secretary of the NUC, Abdullahi Ribadu, said the commission would engage the National Youth Service Corps to reconsider the mobilisation framework for NOUN graduates.

Ribadu explained that the earlier policy exempting most NOUN graduates from national service was based on the institution’s previous student population, which largely consisted of working adults above the NYSC age limit.

According to him, the university has recently recorded an increase in younger students under the age of 30 who may qualify for the scheme.

The review follows concerns raised by the Chancellor of NOUN, Ewuare II, who called for equal treatment of graduates of the institution, arguing that the current arrangement places them at a disadvantage.

NOUN, which was originally known for admitting working professionals and older learners, has experienced significant demographic changes in recent years.

Data from the institution indicated that enrolment has risen by nearly 46 per cent since 2021, with active undergraduate students now estimated at 133,000.

The fastest-growing category of students is reportedly those between the ages of 18 and 22, many of whom are attracted by the institution’s flexible learning structure, uninterrupted academic calendar, and admission process that does not require the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The institution’s growing popularity among younger Nigerians has sparked debate among education experts and policy analysts over whether the university is drifting away from its original purpose as a platform for lifelong and distance learning.

Leadership development expert, Charles Omole, said although NOUN’s admission model aligns with the law establishing the institution, the university risks losing its foundational identity if it increasingly becomes an alternative route for young school leavers.

He noted that open universities globally were primarily designed for working adults, professionals, and individuals seeking flexible learning opportunities due to work or family commitments.

Public analyst, John Ude, also warned that the institution’s distinct identity could become blurred if it continues to serve as a substitute for conventional university admission pathways.

Similarly, university lecturer, Tade Adeoluwa, said the original concept of open universities was to support mature learners, adding that most graduates of such institutions should ordinarily fall outside the NYSC age bracket.

Another education researcher, Patricia Ugochukwu, argued that while NOUN had not violated any law, the growing enrolment of teenagers could gradually create perceptions of a two-tier university system.

Despite the concerns, some younger students say the institution offers a practical alternative to conventional universities affected by industrial actions and admission bottlenecks.

An 18-year-old Computer Science student identified simply as Daniel said he chose NOUN because of its stable academic calendar and flexible learning model, despite concerns about limited campus life and self-directed learning challenges.

Established as an open and distance learning institution, NOUN has grown into one of the largest academic institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 614,000 learners within its educational system.