Miva Pro-Chancellor Canvasses Rethinking of Higher Education, Backs Open Learning

Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, the newly appointed Pro-Chancellor of Miva Open University, is calling for a significant overhaul of how higher education is delivered in Nigeria. He firmly believes that quality education should transcend geographical, economic, and social barriers, making it accessible to all.

Speaking at the university's recent convocation ceremony in Lagos, Olowolafe highlighted open and distance learning as a powerful model capable of expanding educational access without compromising academic rigor. He argued that future educational systems must be flexible, adapting to the circumstances of learners rather than expecting students to conform to outdated models.

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Democratising education does not mean lowering standards. It means refusing to allow the conditions of learning to become a barrier to the quality of learning. It means designing systems that meet students where they are, not systems that demand students rearrange their entire lives to fit a model built for a different era.

"Democratising education does not mean lowering standards," Olowolafe stated. "It means refusing to allow the conditions of learning to become a barrier to the quality of learning. It means designing systems that meet students where they are, not systems that demand students rearrange their entire lives to fit a model built for a different era."

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Where the student cannot travel to the classroom, the classroom must learn to travel to the student.

He drew parallels to the vision of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose initiatives broadened learning opportunities. Olowolafe sees Miva Open University as a modern embodiment of this philosophy, using technology to bridge educational gaps. He challenged the misconception that open and distance learning is inferior, arguing that such views lead to underinvestment in a system that could greatly expand access across Africa.

Olowolafe assured graduating students that their education was rigorous and that they should be proud. He acknowledged the global challenge of maintaining quality amid rising enrollment but commended Miva Open University for upholding academic integrity while pursuing growth. He also expressed optimism about Nigeria's educational reforms, anticipating improved outcomes with sustained effort.

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The graduates before me today did not receive a diluted education. They were held to rigorous standards. They were assessed, challenged and stretched. They paid for their own data, sat their own examinations and asked no one for permission to be ambitious.