UI VC Commissions 650-Seater Lecture Theatre and Other Projects at the Distance Learning Centre

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, has commissioned new facilities at the UI Distance Learning Centre (DLC), including a 650-seater lecture theatre complex, a memorial park in honour of late Professor Olushola Adedoja, a brand new bus and an e-learning studio.

He described the 650-seater lecture theatre complex as a significant milestone in the institution's development, noting that it represented more than the construction of a physical structure.

He said the facility reflected the commitment of the university to investments in expanding educational opportunities and strengthening institutional capacity to meet the changing demands of higher education in Nigeria.

Professor Adebowale expressed appreciation to TETFund for its intervention, disclosing that the lecture theatre would serve the entire university community.

He said the facilities would also strengthen the relationship between digital learning and physical academic engagement, ensuring that technology and modern infrastructure complement each other in delivering quality education.

The Vice-Chancellor commended the immediate past Director of the centre, Professor E. B. Omobowale for his contribution to the progress of the construction and Mr Jimi Fakoya, the CEO, Edutech Portal Solutions for his commitment and continued support for the centre.

Speaking on the evolution of the Distance Learning Centre, the VC recalled that its administrative and operational activities began in1988 in a modest wooden structure on the university's main campus and in 2005, the centre relocated to a facility at No. 20 Awolowo Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan, marking another stage in its institutional development. 

He added that on November 16, 2008, it moved to its previous head office complex, a property bequeathed to the university by the Late Chief Samuel Olasupo Moroundiya and the rehabilitated property was officially commissioned during the university's 2008 convocation ceremonies by the then Chancellor, His Highness, (Late) Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero, Emir of Kano, CFR, LL.D.

Professor Adebowale acknowledged the lasting contribution of the donor and disclosed that the university was exploring ways to reactivate and optimise the use of the bequeathed property, while ensuring that the terms of the bequest were respected.

He added that the centre had grown into a technology-driven open and distance learning platform serving thousands of learners through digital tools, including mobile classes, interactive online tests, audiobooks, video lessons and real-time virtual classrooms.

He stressed that the centre's development demonstrated the commitment of the University to making education more accessible to learners regardless of geographical location.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of the Distance Learning Centre, Professor O. F. W. Onifade, described the commissioning as a celebration of institutional progress and a renewed commitment to expanding access to quality university education.

He said the facilities would complement the centre's digital learning infrastructure by providing spaces for lectures, examinations, conferences, professional development and scholarly engagement.

According to him, the future of distance education lies not in choosing between technology and physical infrastructure but in integrating both to improve learning outcomes, noting that the centre's commitment extends beyond increasing student enrolment to strengthening academic quality, improving students' learning experiences, enhancing operational efficiency and creating an environment where innovation could thrive.

The Director expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and the university management for their leadership support in bringing the project to completion, while acknowledging the contributions of the immediate past director and his commitment to the growth of the centre.

Speaking on the Memorial Park, the CEO, Edutech Portal Solutions, Mr. Jimi Fakoya described the Late Professor Olusola Gloria Adedoja as an academic whose mentorship and guidance were instrumental in shaping his career, disclosing that an early discovery of his potential in the then Department of Teacher Education, University of Ibadan left a transformative mark on his life. 

According to him, the original initiative of the erstwhile Director was to beautify the out space. He, however, disclosed that a vision to create a living, breathing tribute blossomed into an ornamental sanctuary of 243 trees, comprising Auracaria, King's Palms, Bougainvillea, fruit-bearing sweet oranges, hybrid oil palms, and largely Cameroonian phycos.

Mr Fakoya noted that the occasion was doubly significant for Edutech Portal Solutions, saying that standing alongside the park was the commissioning of the state-of-the-art dual e-learning studio, a public-private partnership project successfully executed to drive cutting-edge open-distance e-learning. 

He disclosed that the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission had described the facility as the best in Nigerian universities nationwide, which, according to him is a testament to what is possible when academia and visionary private partnership align with excellence.

In his remarks, Reverend Professor I. O. O. Aiyelaagbe, who spoke on behalf of the family of the Late Professor Adedoja, expressed gratitude to the university management for approving the project.

He noted that the memorial park offered an opportunity to honour a departed family member whose life and contributions remained significant to those who knew her, while pledging that the family will support in the maintenance and gradual improvement of the park.

The Director, Physical Planning and Project Management, Professor B. I. O. Dahunsi explained that the project was completed under the 2024 Annual Intervention of TETFund, but an upgrade was added to it in the 2026 TETFund Intervention Fund

He added that the 650-seater capacity lecture theatre has two 100-seater-capacity lecture halls, 150-seater capacity seminar room, eight offices, a business centre, four 50-seater classrooms, 32 toilet facilities, and a 30 KVA inverter system with lithium battery, stating that the complex is a state-of-the-art facility that will expand the capacity of the digital learning centre to contribute more.