By Peter Omopo
Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State — July 26, 2025
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has urged Nigerian universities and the government to increase investments in digital infrastructure to enhance the reach, quality, and effectiveness of digital learning across the country.
Deputy Executive Secretary of the NUC, Mr. Chris Maiyaki, made this call on Friday while delivering a keynote address at the maiden convocation of Babcock University’s Centre for Open, Distance and e-Learning (BUCODeL) in Ilisan-Remo.
Speaking on the theme “Digital Learning for Global Impact,” Maiyaki said that digital learning should go beyond certification to become a tool of empowerment that produces citizens equipped with the digital skills needed to thrive in a knowledge-based economy.
“For Nigeria to sustain momentum in digital education, we must prioritise investments in broadband access, reliable power supply, and digital hardware,” he said. “We must also train and retrain all categories of staff to improve their capacity for delivering quality online learning.”
Maiyaki emphasised the need for a functional national policy on digital education and called for stronger collaboration among universities, government agencies, the private sector, and international partners to build a dynamic and inclusive digital learning ecosystem.
He described Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) as crucial to Nigeria’s sustainable development goals, noting that making it accessible and affordable will help bridge the digital divide and ensure no Nigerian is left behind.
Congratulating the graduating class, Maiyaki said, “Your success marks not the end but the beginning of a mission—to innovate, to impact, and to champion digital learning as a transformative force.”
The Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof. Ademola Tayo, also spoke at the event, stressing that Africa’s future depends on its ability to educate both its youth and the millions of adults outside the formal education system. He noted that open distance learning provides the infrastructure to deliver education across regional divides.
“Raising Nigeria’s literacy rate from 62% to over 80% could unlock massive industrial and human capital growth,” Prof. Tayo said. “ODeL is key to this transformation.”
The Director of BUCODeL, Prof. Mobolanle Sotunsa, revealed that the programme, which started in 2021 with just 17 students, now has 446 learners across disciplines such as Accounting, Computer Science, and Business Administration. She announced plans to expand into Nursing, Mass Communication, Public Health, and Education by year’s end.
Prof. Sotunsa acknowledged challenges including limited funding and a lingering skepticism toward online education but affirmed the centre’s commitment to excellence.
“Our graduates today are the first fruits of BUCODeL’s mission—to prove that distance is not a barrier to excellence,” she said. “Go forth and lead. Let your story be one of impact, transformation, and limitless possibility.”
