Africa Leaders Task On Distance Learning  To Rescue University Education

Leaders of Africa nations have been tasked to establish e-learning higher education centers across the countries as this would serve as solution to addressing closure of universities in crisis affected areas on the continent.

Africa’s Higher Education Goodwill Ambassador for Open and Distance Learning, Emeritus Professor Olugbemiro Jegede said this on the sideline of the recently held Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and Presidents of Universities in Africa.

According to Professor Olugbemiro, there is need to increase advocacy on open and digital literacy.

He acknowledged that university education has been ignored in countries facing crisis.

E Learning Centres

He tasked the Association of Africa Universities to create e-learning centers across Africa and also link the centres to student in places and distress affected areas.

The AAU Chief said this would serve as a continum of higher education for the affected students.

Accordingt him, “university education is   critical and it is been ignored in countries like somalia,south Sudan northern Niger, Chad and these countries have been unstable for over a decade yet the universities there are being shut down due to policies that do not favour the people.”

Marginalisation of Education in Africa

He lamented the high level of destruction that hit the universities when war broke out in Khartoum, Southern Cameroon, Northern Niger and other countries across Africa, saying most students who were in final year were forced to abandoned their studies for safety.

The Professor says, “In khartoum and southern Cameroon and other places  there were students in final year who all have to flee ,as it was  libraries and books have all being burnt “

The Professor Emeritus stated that mostly, libraries were burnt along with books

He called on Africa leaders to promote  virtual education as well as digital education .

Jegede said that this would address disruption of academic activities during crisis in any country in Africa .

“There is need for education revolution on the Africa continent,” he said.

Speaking on the woes of students affected by crisis in Sudan, the AAU Ambassador Olugbemiro, identified credit transfer to choice university in other countries

According to him, “if there is crisis in any Africa country affecting the university there it then means the student can transfer acquired credits to the new choice university in another country and continue the work.”

Rescue Education In Sudan

To rescue higher education in Sudan, Professor Emeritus Jegede said that untill the politicians in the country return to discussion table education would continue to suffer in Sudan.

According to him ,“65percent of Sudanese population are youths hence the need to take education beyond the four walls of the classroom.

Olugbemiro, Nigeria’s first Professor of Open and Distance Learning was conferred the award of Africa’s Goodwill Ambassador  for Open and Distance learning by the Association of Africa Universities for what they described as exceptional support and unwavering dedication to the advancement of higher education in Africa.

As the former Secretary General of the Association, Professor Emeritus Jegede was also honoured for his visionary approach to the leadership and dynamism in executing all assignments committed to him while he served.

According to the AAU, “his commitment to the vision of AAU birthed the present resident of the permanent secretariat of the AAU in Accra Ghana”

Congratulating the Emeritus Professor, Nigeria’s Former President, Olusegun obasanjo applauded Olugbemiro’s contribution to distance learning describing his efforts as historic.

Chief Obasanjo charged the Professor to continue to support the continent in opening more access in distance and open learning saying this would reposition the continent.

According to a message shared with VON,  Chief Obasanjo said these in the message ;

“Professor Jegede, congratulations for your historic award and thank you specially for your humility and the honor done to me by associating me with your contribution to higher education in Africa.

” More power to your elbows and may all you need to continue to matter in education and knowledge locally, nationally, continentally and globally be made available to you.”

Professor Emeritus Olugbemiro was first appointed Professor of Science Education in 1989 at the University of Abuja at the age of 37 years; making him the youngest Professor of education in Nigeria then,

He was also appointed Professor of Open and Distance Learning at the Open University of Hong Kong in 1997.

 

Confidence Okwuchi