Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has affirmed that degrees obtained through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) from accredited institutions in Nigeria hold the same value as those from conventional universities.
Advertorial
Speaking at a three-day stakeholders’ roundtable in Abuja for the critique and adoption of the draft National Policy on Open, Distance, and e-Learning, Prof. Mamman highlighted the importance of ODL in addressing the limited admission capacity of traditional universities.
He emphasized that only about 25% of qualified applicants secure admission annually, and ODL helps bridge this gap.
Advertorial
Prof. Mamman praised the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for its significant growth and the increasing number of universities accredited to offer dual-mode education.
He acknowledged concerns about the quality of ODL but assured that robust quality assurance measures are in place, overseen by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“ODL is the future, and we must embrace it,” he stated, noting ongoing efforts to resolve issues such as ODL students’ participation in law school and the NYSC scheme.
Dr. Tanko Sununu, Director of ICT at the Federal Ministry of Education, echoed these sentiments, commending initiatives to strengthen ODL as an alternative to traditional education.
He emphasized the need for sustainable policies to address financial, intellectual, and quality challenges in ODL delivery.
The roundtable, he said, offered a platform for stakeholders from academia, government, and the private sector to share experiences and strategize on enhancing ODL in Nigeria.
Acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic’s role in highlighting the necessity of online education, which has accelerated the adoption of ODL globally.
Emeritus Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, a pioneer of ODL in Nigeria, spoke on the transformative potential of ODL, stressing the importance of integrating technology in education.
He cited notable Nigerians like Emeritus Professors Pai Obanya and Afe Babalola, who excelled through the ODL system.
