Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, has entered into a partnership with EduTech Global to expand digital learning and make its academic programmes accessible to learners beyond its physical campus.
Under the partnership, EduTech Global will provide digital learning infrastructure and technology support for the university’s Distance Learning Centre.
The initiative is expected to enable more students, including working professionals and learners unable to attend conventional full-time programmes, to access university education remotely.
According to Punch, the partnership will also support the digitisation of key academic and administrative processes at the university’s Distance Learning Centre.
Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, described the partnership as a major step towards the future of higher education in Nigeria.
He said expanding digital learning infrastructure would help remove geographical barriers and contribute to workforce development by making industry-aligned education accessible to learners regardless of location.
The Director of the university’s Distance Learning Centre, Prof Gideon Bawa, said the partnership would help the institution move away from largely manual processes and establish a more efficient and scalable distance-learning system.
EduTech Global General Manager, Moyosore Asubiojo, said the partnership responded to growing demand for flexible higher education among working professionals, entrepreneurs and other learners who require alternatives to traditional full-time university education.
The partnership reflects a broader shift in Nigeria’s higher education sector towards online and flexible learning models.
For universities, digital delivery can potentially expand their geographical reach beyond the traditional campus while allowing working adults and other learners to combine education with employment and other responsibilities.
The development also comes shortly after the University of Abuja announced a partnership with EduTech to expand access to higher education through digital learning.
As more Nigerian universities embrace technology-enabled education, the key challenge will be ensuring that increased access is matched by quality assurance, reliable connectivity, student support and credible assessment systems.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.