OSINBAJO, UNILAG VC URGE EXPANSION OF DISTANCE LEARNING TO BRIDGE UNIVERSITY ACCESS GAP

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By: Balogun Ibrahim

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, have called for the expansion of open and distance learning to address Nigeria’s growing demand for university education.

They made the call on Tuesday at the fifth colloquium of the University of Lagos Distance Learning Institute, held in Lagos under the theme, “Reimagining the Open and Distance Learning Ecosystem: Technology, Policy & Institutional Priorities.”

Osinbajo, who chaired the colloquium, said Nigeria could not close its university access gap by relying mainly on conventional campus-based education, noting that more than 2.2 million candidates seek admission through JAMB annually.

He said the country’s tertiary institutions have historically admitted only about a quarter of those seeking admission, while population growth would continue to increase pressure on the education system.

According to Osinbajo, open and distance learning should no longer be treated as a secondary option but as a national necessity.

He also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to expand access to education while providing personalised academic support, including assessments, feedback and learning materials tailored to students’ needs.

However, he cautioned universities against simply moving traditional teaching methods online, stressing that meaningful digital transformation requires a fundamental rethink of how students learn and are assessed.

Osinbajo further called for greater attention to affordable internet access, electricity and digital devices, noting that learning platforms should be designed to work effectively on mobile phones and, where possible, offline.

Similarly, Ogunsola said Nigeria’s large youth population and increasing demand for higher education made it necessary to move beyond the traditional university model.

She noted that Nigeria has about 89 million young people aged between 15 and 30, describing the existing system as inadequate to meet the educational needs of the growing population.

The Vice-Chancellor said open and distance learning should not be regarded as inferior to conventional education, stressing that accredited ODL degrees carry the same value as those obtained through full-time programmes.

She identified artificial intelligence as a major tool for personalised learning, assessment, content development and early identification of struggling students, while urging universities to address concerns around academic integrity, data privacy and quality assurance.

Ogunsola also called for policies covering digital credentials, online assessments, AI in education, micro-credentials, credit transfers and recognition of prior learning.

She urged universities to treat open and distance learning as a core institutional strategy rather than a peripheral programme.