By Opeyemi Quadri 
Professor Uduma Oji Uduma was appointed is the new Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) following the announcement by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mallam Isa Yuguda, at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, October 10, 2025.
Uduma, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), who emerged successful from a pool of 30 applicants, officially assume office on February 11, 2026, succeeding Professor Olufemi Peters, whose tenure ends on the same date.
His appointment came after the Council adopted the report of the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.
Education
Born on January 30, 1966, Prof. Uduma hails from Ebonyi State, in South-East Nigeria. He makes history as the first person from Ebonyi to head the university since its resuscitation 22 years ago.
A product of the University of Calabar, he graduated as the best student in his faculty, earning his first degree with distinction. He later obtained a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Lagos and was promoted to a Professor of Philosophy and Logic a few years later.
Career
He began his academic career in February 1990 as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Uduma has served in several academic institutions across Nigeria and beyond. His teaching and administrative career includes appointments at the University of Port Harcourt (1994 – 1996), Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (1999 – 2017), and as Visiting Scholar at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana (1998 – 2010).
He has also held adjunct positions at multiple institutions, including Evangel University, Abakaliki (where he served as Director of Academic Planning, 2014 – 2018), Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (2015 – 2016), Kogi State University (2009 – 2011), and Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana (2012 – 2014).
A Lawyer
Beyond his academic achievements, Prof. Uduma is also a Barrister-at-Law, having been called to the Nigerian Bar in 2007, a rare distinction among Nigerian university scholars.
Renowned for his depth in philosophical analysis and logical reasoning, Uduma has earned respect across the academic community for his scholarship and intellectual rigour.
As Study Centre Director of NOUN in Abakaliki, he demonstrated outstanding leadership by increasing student enrolment from 496 to over 2,000, reflecting his administrative acumen and commitment to educational access.
He has also held several strategic positions within NOUN, including Head of Department, Director of General Studies, Director of Academic Planning, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), before rising to the top leadership position.
Published works
Uduma is widely recognised for his research visibility and impact, maintaining a notable presence on Google Scholar and within international academic circles. Some of his scholarly published include:
- Rorty on the Death of Epistemology A Pragmatist Critique of Foundationalism;
- Logic and Argumentation: In defense of inductive Logic;
- In defence of Dialectical Logic against the violation of the Principles of Identity and non-contradiction in Logic among others
His appointment as Vice-Chancellor is expected to bring intellectual depth, administrative stability, and renewed vision to Nigeria’s foremost open and distance learning institution.
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Editorial Staff