Ex-UNILAG VC Advocates for Online Education at ASUU Valedictory Lecture

In a valedictory lecture at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, advocated for the adoption of online education in Nigerian universities.

Jul 12, 2024 - 17:41

Ex-UNILAG VC Advocates for Online Education at ASUU Valedictory Lecture

In an address at the ASUU valedictory lecture, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, urged Nigerian universities to adopt online education as a sustainable solution to the sector's myriad challenges.

Speaking on Wednesday as a guest lecturer at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Mr. Ogundipe outlined the pressing issues confronting Nigerian tertiary education. The lecture, honoring the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of UDUS, Lawal Bilbis, was part of ASUU UDUS's "Heroes’ Day" celebrations.

Mr. Ogundipe identified severe underfunding, infrastructural decay, brain drain, overcrowding, and leadership incompetence as critical problems leading to the production of unemployable graduates. He emphasized that while improved funding and effective management are vital, the enormity of financial requirements makes significant progress challenging.

Advocating for online education, Mr. Ogundipe argued that it offers a scalable, flexible, and accessible alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar institutions. He noted that expanding physical infrastructure is impractical due to the prohibitive costs involved.

"Given the impracticality of investing trillions of naira towards new university building projects, a cost-efficient alternative that the nation should embrace is online education," he stated. He highlighted that online education could significantly reduce the costs associated with constructing and maintaining new facilities, while also addressing overcrowding.

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Mr. Ogundipe also linked frequent workers' strikes to the lack of modern facilities and inadequate funding, which hinder optimal university performance. He pointed out that many universities lack the necessary equipment for effective teaching and learning in an era of rapid technological advancement.

Additionally, he criticized the low salaries of Nigerian academics, revealing that a vice-chancellor's salary is about N800,000, which reduces to N500,000 or N600,000 after deductions. This financial strain continues even after they revert to their professor salary post-tenure.

Mr. Ogundipe further elaborated on the broader benefits of online education, including enhanced safety, especially in regions plagued by insecurity. "The flexibility offered by online education will also go a long way toward reducing incidences of kidnappings, particularly for those in Northwestern Nigeria. This is of course because online students can learn from home," he said.