Expert Advises Nigeria On E-Learning, Says Covid-19 Has Teachable Lessons

A UK based Nigerian academic and expert on e-learning, Dr. Dili Ojukwu, has advised Nigeria to adopt an e-learning system urging Nigerian universities particularly to stand up for the “momentous generational challenge.”

Speaking with HumAngle on the pace of institutional global changes in the face of today’s realities Dr. Ojukwu said that technology has altered, and altogether overtaken face-to-face interactions.

Acknowledging that experts have been warning developing nations on the impending disruptions on offline operations, Ojukwu regretted that many didn’t take actions until Covid-19 pandemic caught them pants-down.

“It is indeed sad that it took COVID-19 to shock most of humanity, particularly those living in the so-called developing nations, about the need for total rethink on the delivery of education. But, technology has been warning us about it for decades,” he told HumAngle.

“In a lot of African countries today, education, including tertiary education, is at a standstill. Why? They have not integrated remote learning practices in their curricula.

“They are still stuck in the traditional pattern of knowledge sharing where one individual would stand in a classroom, telling students how to confront the challenges of the 21st century with 19th century equipment.”

E-learning in Nigeria

E-learning is based on digital inclusion and internet penetration that are progressing sluggishly in many parts of Nigeria, especially rural areas.

Statistics have shown that less than half of Nigeria’s population have access to the Internet and the country’s internet market is described as “largely immature” by experts.

In few universities where some courses are taken through the hybrid method of integrating online and offline learning, erratic power supply is a stumbling block.

Limited expertise, financial restrictions and lack of awareness are other hindrances stopping some colleges from forsaking the traditional offline learning and adopting the e-system.

Students in Nigeria are sitting at home due to covid-19 and receive no lesson for about three months since the lockdown measure was implemented to curb the pandemic.

Some states adopt radio learning but only for primary school pupils. Some of the pupils are struggling to understand the less interactive methods of the radio learning.