Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has suggested that artificial intelligence (AI) could be a key tool in addressing the crisis of millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
Obasanjo made this assertion on Thursday at the third international colloquium and 50th-anniversary celebration of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The event was themed “The Massive and Ubiquitous Invasion of the Education Landscape by Artificial Intelligence: Whither Open, Flexible and Distance Learning?”
Citing statistics that over 20 million Nigerian children are out-of-school, Obasanjo emphasized, “We have an education crisis, and artificial intelligence, alongside open distance learning, are among the tools we can deploy to address this challenge.”
Reflecting on his own experience, Obasanjo shared, “I enrolled in an open distance learning university because I believe in practicing what I preach, and it was successful. Today, there should be no difference between a distance learning certificate and a conventional one. I commend UNILAG’s efforts in fostering innovation within and beyond the institution.”
Obasanjo also pointed out that distance learning could help alleviate issues related to accommodation and transportation for students.
In her opening remarks, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Folashade Ogunsola expressed pride in the institution’s embrace of distance learning, recognizing that the future of education is increasingly technology-driven. “With Nigeria’s population at 226 million, and 89 percent of these being young people aged 15 to 30, the need for education is vast,” Ogunsola said. “Currently, around two million students are in the university system, with a quarter of these engaged in distance learning.”
Ogunsola noted that UNILAG is among the most innovative universities globally, unafraid to embrace change to enhance education. She highlighted the institution’s efforts to ensure that Distance Learning Institute (DLI) certificates are equivalent to traditional degrees, a move recently approved by the university’s senate.
“We are also exploring innovative approaches to distance teaching,” Ogunsola added. “With the loss of lecturers due to the ‘Japa Syndrome,’ we must find ways to engage them regardless of their location. By next year, we plan to launch distance teaching for this program.”
Prof. Ramesh Sharma, Director of Distance Education at the University of Guyana, South America, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that AI is not a threat but rather a tool to enhance education. “AI-empowered educational ecosystems will help students learn better and faster,” Sharma said. He also highlighted AI’s potential to improve academic outcomes by predicting student success and identifying those at risk.
Prof. Risikat Dauda, Director of the Distance Learning Institute at UNILAG, reiterated the commitment to promoting the responsible use of AI in education. “AI is rapidly reshaping traditional teaching and learning paradigms,” Dauda stated.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was chaired by Prof. Kabiru Isyaku, Pro-Chancellor of Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), Kano, with Prof. Tayo Arulogun, Vice-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Abuja, also in attendance.
