The Chancellor of American Open University, Prof. Seyi Akanbi, has called for a fundamental redesign of Nigeria’s education system to meet the realities of the digital age.
He said electricity supply and internet connectivity should not hinder the development of effective online education in the country.
Speaking at the Tribune Discourse programme organised by the NUJ Tribune Chapel, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Education Gap: How Technology and Online Learning Are Transforming Higher Education,” Akanbi said Nigeria should not simply transfer the traditional classroom model to an online platform but should develop learning systems specifically designed for the country’s environment.
He explained that American Open University has adopted a flexible, hybrid approach that lets students access learning materials even when internet connectivity is unavailable.
Akanbi argued that no country has perfect infrastructure, adding that education providers must develop solutions that work within their environment.
He also called for a shift from conventional digital literacy to what he described as productivity literacy, saying Nigerians already have significant exposure to digital platforms.
According to him, digital education should not merely teach people how to use computers or access the internet but equip them to use technology to create solutions and become productive.
On accessibility for students with disabilities, Akanbi advocated adopting Universal Design for Learning, which provides educational materials in different formats.
He dismissed the perception that graduates of online universities are inferior to those from conventional universities, arguing that quality should be measured by competence rather than mode of education.
“We have a problem of design. We bring the same design of traditional education, wrap it around and package it as online learning. You cannot just package something that has failed and call it online learning. You must redesign it from the ground up.
“Our system is designed in such a way that if you are a student, you have access to the course materials. If you are outside and have internet, you can access the course materials, and even without internet, you can access them offline.
“Everybody here is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms. We use digital banking and other digital services. What we are lacking is a productivity system.
“At our school, there is no physical classroom where you come and sit down. From the beginning, it is hands-on. Your assignments are done on the computer, submitted on the computer and communication is also digital.
“Accessibility should not be about putting one group of people at a disadvantage while trying to help another. It is about giving people the opportunity to choose the option that works best for them.
“Let us put all the traditional universities together. Do they produce graduates of the same quality? No. We should measure graduates’ competence across different schools.
Earlier, in her opening address, NUJ Tribune Chapel Chairman Bunmi Ishola said the discourse aimed to confront issues critical to Nigeria’s future.
“The reality before us is clear. While the demand for higher education continues to grow, access remains a major challenge. Many young Nigerians still cannot secure places in conventional institutions, while distance, cost, inadequate infrastructure, and other barriers keep education out of reach for many.
“Technology offers us a new possibility. With online learning and digital education, the classroom is no longer necessarily confined by four walls. A student in a rural community can potentially access a lecturer, course or institution hundreds of kilometres away. But we must ask: Are we truly prepared to make this opportunity accessible to every Nigerian?”
