NUC urges varsities, govt to invest more in digital infrastructure

The Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Mr Chris Maiyaki, on Friday called on universities and the government to step up investment in digital infrastructure to enhance digital learning.

Mr Maiyaki said that rather than serve as a mere race for certification, digital learning turns education into a ladder for empowerment and produces citizens who are digitally literate, employable, and capable of engaging in the development of society.

He stated that Open Distance e-Learning in the country is critical to Nigeria’s sustainable development and that there is therefore the need to continue to make digital learning inclusive and affordable to bridge the digital divide and ensure that no Nigerian is left behind.

Maiyaki said, “More importantly, the country must develop a functional digital education policy thrust to maximise the potentials in e-learning.”

The NUC Deputy Executive Secretary made this call during a keynote address delivered at the maiden convocation of the Centre for Open, Distance and e-Learning of Babcock University, Ilisan Remo.

Mr Maiyaki, who spoke on “Digital Learning for Global Impact,” said that the topic is both apt and timely, considering the substantial impact of digital technology on higher education, both nationally and internationally.

He revealed, “For Nigeria to, however, maintain her momentum in digital learning, it is imperative to prioritise continuous investment in digital infrastructure and tools, including broadband access, power supply, and required hardware.

“Digital learning must be made an important learning tool for all Nigerians and Nigerian institutions, rather than be perceived as a luxury found only in urban areas.

“Furthermore, we must sustain the practice of building the capacities of all categories of staff on a regular basis so as to provide them with the digital skills required for successful online teaching and learner engagement.”

Maiyaki said that the nation’s universities and all stakeholders must be encouraged to collaborate with one another, and with government agencies, the private sector, and international partners to develop a cohesive and dynamic digital education ecosystem.

Congratulating the graduates for their perseverance and commitment to academic excellence, Maiyaki urged them to consider themselves as architects of Nigeria’s digital future.

He added, “As you graduate today, remember that your success is not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a mission, to influence, innovate, and to impact the world through what you have learned.

“I, therefore, challenge you to go forth and become ambassadors of change in your communities and industries. Let your success demonstrate that digital learning is a viable and transformative path to excellence.”

Maiyaki saluted Babcock University for its visionary leadership in launching and nurturing BUCODeL, applauding the institution for taking a bold step that positions it as one of the forerunners in digital learning in Nigeria and also as a partner in shaping the global educational landscape.

In his short remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Ademola Tayo, said that Africa’s future depends on its ability to educate not just the young, but the millions of adults currently outside formal education.

Prof Tayo said that ODL offers the infrastructure to scale learning across urban and rural areas, enabling countries to accelerate human capital development.

He stated that raising literacy rates from around 62 percent to 80 percent or more in Nigeria could catalyse industrialisation, improve productivity, and break cycles of poverty, and that open distance learning is critical to achieving this targeted goal.

He added that ODL enables learners across regional divides—especially rural and underserved communities—to access education with flexibility suited to their lives, breaking barriers of geography, time, and traditional class schedules.

Prof Tayo congratulated the graduands and urged them to go and use their skills to aid sustainable development and impact the country and the world for the betterment of all.

The Director of BUCODeL, Prof Mobolanle Sotunsa, said that the distance learning programme, which began around 2021 with 17 students, now boasts about 446 students studying Accounting, Computer Science, MBA, among others.

Prof Sotunsa said that the centre is currently developing four additional programmes – BSc Nursing, BSc Mass Communication, Master of Public Health (MPH), and Master of Education (MEd) – with the accreditation of these new courses expected before the end of the year.

She stated that the challenges facing the centre include limited funding for technological infrastructure and content development, national phobia for online learning as a credible path, among others.

Describing the graduates as the first fruits and testimony of BUCODeL’s dream that distance is not a barrier to excellence, Sotunsa urged the graduands to “Go forth and lead. Use your knowledge, your values, and your faith to light paths for others. Let your BUCODeL story be one of impact, of transformation, and of possibility.”