Erstwhile Vice President Yemi Osinbajo(SAN) has emphasised that Nigeria can meet its growing university demand by embracing open and distance learning.
He said doing so would help expand access to higher education.
Osinbajo, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Distance Learning Institute’s (DLI) 5th International Colloquium in Lagos yesterday, noted that more than 2.2 million young Nigerians seek admission into universities through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) annually.
He pointed out at the colloquium themed ‘Reimagining Open Distance Learning Ecosystem: Technology, Policy and Institutional Priorities” that tertiary institutions in the country have the capacity to admit only about 25 per cent of applicants.
According to the erstwhile vice president, with Nigeria’s population projected to approach 250 million in the next 10 years, the number of annual university applicants could rise to 2.7 million or even exceed three million.
He, therefore, warned that conventional universities would struggle to provide the lecture theatres, laboratories, hospitals, campuses and other physical infrastructure required to accommodate such numbers.
Osinbajo described open and distance learning not as an alternative to conventional university education but as a national necessity for expanding access to higher education.
He added that distance learning could ultimately become the principal means through which Nigeria fulfils its promise of university education to millions of citizens.
The former vice-president noted advancement in technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), could aid universities to combine mass access with personalised learning.
He urged policymakers, universities and other stakeholders to develop practical policies around technology, lecturer training, assessment and the use of AI to prepare the higher education sector for future demands.
Osinbajo envisaged a system where thousands of students could have access to AI tutors capable of explaining difficult concepts, testing students’ understanding, translating learning materials and providing personalised feedback.
He also noted that the changing nature of work would make lifelong learning increasingly important, as professionals in fields such as law, accounting, banking and engineering would need to repeatedly return to education to acquire new skills.
Osinbajo stressed that technology must remain a tool for human development, arguing that its real value lies in its ability to expand human capabilities and create greater opportunities.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria commended UNILAG’s DLI for its pioneering role in distance learning and challenged the institute to help shape the next generation of the sector.
UNILAG Vice Chancellor Folasade Ogunsola described open and distance learning as critical to expanding access to higher education as the nation’s youth population surges.
According to her, the traditional university model is increasingly inadequate for meeting the demand for tertiary education, with the country having about 89 million young people aged between 15 and 30, with an average national age of 19 years.
She said ODL offered opportunities for workers, persons with disabilities and Nigerians living far from university campuses to obtain higher education through flexible learning arrangements.
The vice chancellor said UNILAG no longer indicates distance learning on certificates issued to graduates, reflecting the university’s position that ODL graduates should receive equal recognition with their counterparts from conventional programmes.
Ogunsola said ODL must evolve beyond simply delivering content to creating connected learning environments that promote engagement, personalised education and stronger learning outcomes.
She identified AI as a potentially transformative tool for personalised learning, instant feedback, content development, assessment and early identification of students experiencing academic difficulties.
The Director of DLI, Risikat Dauda, said ODL was becoming increasingly important to expanding access to education, closing skills gaps and preparing Nigerians for a rapidly changing labour market.
Dauda identified inadequate broadband infrastructure, high data costs, digital literacy gaps and concerns about employers’ perception of ODL qualifications as some of the challenges confronting the sector.