Osinbajo, UNILAG urge wider distance learning to bridge university access gap

Former Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, have called for a substantial expansion of open and distance learning (ODL) to tackle Nigeria's escalating demand for university education. Their remarks came during the fifth colloquium of the University of Lagos' Distance Learning Institute.

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The mathematics of access to university education in Nigeria simply does not work if we continue to rely mainly on conventional campus models for university education.

Osinbajo, who chaired the colloquium themed “Reimagining the Open and Distance Learning Ecosystem: Technology, Policy & Institutional Priorities,” argued that Nigeria cannot bridge its university access gap by relying solely on traditional campus-based education. He pointed to the stark reality of over 2.2 million Nigerians applying for university admission annually through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, while the tertiary education system historically admits only about a quarter of that number. With Nigeria's projected population growth, Osinbajo warned that increasing pressure on existing universities would make it impractical to depend solely on building more lecture halls and hostels.

"The mathematics of access to university education in Nigeria simply does not work if we continue to rely mainly on conventional campus models for university education," Osinbajo stated. He asserted that ODL should no longer be considered a secondary option but a national imperative. He highlighted the potential of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to facilitate mass access while simultaneously offering students personalized learning experiences. "This is why open and distance learning can no longer be seen as something on the margins of higher education. It is now clearly a national necessity," he added.

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This is why open and distance learning can no longer be seen as something on the margins of higher education. It is now clearly a national necessity.

However, Osinbajo cautioned universities against merely transferring traditional teaching methods to digital platforms. He stressed that true transformation requires a fundamental rethinking of how students learn and are assessed. He also noted that distance learning should cater not only to young students but also to older professionals needing continuous reskilling. Both Osinbajo and Ogunsola acknowledged the need to address infrastructure challenges, such as unreliable electricity and the high cost of internet services and devices, emphasizing the importance of developing learning platforms that are accessible via mobile devices.

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All we do is take our lecture, put it on Zoom, upload a PDF, and call that transformation. We simply have changed the medium, but we haven’t changed the model.