By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government has been urged to support institutional access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and prioritize funding for continuous training in technology integration within Nigeria’s distance education system.
This call was made in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the 3rd International Conference of the Open, Distance and eLearning Association of Nigeria (ODeLAN), held from May 14 to 16, 2025, at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Abuja.
Jointly organized by NOUN and ODeLAN, the conference attracted 280 active participants—including educators, policymakers, researchers, and technologists—from across Nigeria and beyond.
The event was themed “Adaptive Pedagogies for the Future of Education: Connecting Learners, Technologies and Communities.”
The communiqué identified critical gaps in digital equity, educator capacity, and collaborative research within the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) ecosystem.
Key recommendations include the creation of an enabling policy environment for inclusive and quality-driven ODeL, facilitation of access to student loan for distance learners through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), and sustained political will to implement digital education strategies.
The communique reads : “To the Government:
“Support the creation of enabling policy environments that foster inclusivity, accessibility, and quality in ODeL.
“Drive regulatory reforms that promote ethical and effective delivery of distance education across Nigeria.
“Ensure political will is sustained in implementing digitisation strategies in education.
“Support institutional access to AI tools and fund continuous training for technology integration.
“Facilitate access to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for distance learners.
“To Institutions
“Invest in continuous capacity building for educators at all levels to improve digital literacy and technology integration.
“Adopt and adapt the ACDE Quality Assurance Toolkit to strengthen internal QA processes.
“Implement robust institutional policies for the ethical use of artificial intelligence in education.
“Integrate adaptive learning environments and personalised learning tools to meet diverse learner needs.
“Promote collaborative research and actively participate in ODeL-focused national research networks.
“Include succession planning as part of the long-term institutional strategy for sustainability in ODeL.
“To the ODeLAN
“Be proactive in contributing to national educational discourse on ODL and related technological reforms.
“Engage with professional bodies to raise awareness and deepen their understanding of the ODL delivery model.
“Develop a functional constitution to provide a strong governance framework for the association.
“Expand membership through targeted outreach and inclusivity strategies.
“Lead in the creation of a national ODeL research network to coordinate and promote collaborative scholarship.
“Advocate with NELFUND and relevant agencies for the inclusion of ODL learners in funding and support schemes.
“Support the creation of ethical guidelines for AI use within member institutions.”
The conference featured keynote addresses by Professor Peter Scott, President of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL); Professor Mpine Makoe, Executive Dean of Education at the University of South Africa (UNISA); and Professor Tayo Arulogun, Vice-Chancellor of MIVA Open University, Abuja.
In addition to plenary and panel discussions, over 100 peer-reviewed papers were presented across six thematic tracks, generating actionable insights and reinforcing the need for cross-institutional collaboration in shaping the future of open and distance learning.
