Two education experts have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritise internet connectivity, scholarships and stronger university institutions as part of efforts to transform Nigeria into a knowledge-driven economy.

They also urged the government to introduce policies that encourage private-sector investment in digital education, innovation and skills development.

The experts, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Akanni Akinyemi, and Chief Executive Officer of Astra Learning, Dr Jeff Bordes, made the recommendations on Tuesday in Lagos.

They spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of an academic workshop organised by OAU in collaboration with Astra Learning, an educational technology company.

Akinyemi stressed the importance of government intervention in ensuring that digital education benefits disadvantaged populations, particularly learners in rural communities.

He called for sustained investment in Information and Communication Technology infrastructure and internet connectivity, alongside scholarship programmes for individuals who cannot afford online learning.

‘’Government should sustain efforts to expand Information and Communication Technology infrastructure and internet connectivity across the country while introducing scholarship schemes for people unable to afford online education, ‘’ he said.

According to the university don, improving access to education goes beyond increasing student enrolment. It also requires extending learning opportunities to individuals who cannot participate in conventional university programmes.

‘’It involves taking learning opportunities to people who cannot participate in conventional university programmes.

“People who want access but cannot afford it, government needs to take care of them.

“Government must also ensure that private organisations are able to partner and work out arrangements to support people who do not have access to education through virtual learning,” he said.

He further advocated the localisation of online educational materials to accommodate learners from different linguistic backgrounds, including those who prefer instruction in indigenous languages.

Akinyemi said adapting digital learning to local languages would promote inclusion and allow more Nigerians, regardless of their location, to benefit from educational opportunities available globally.

He described the partnership between OAU and Astra Learning as a significant innovation that could accelerate Nigeria’s transition from a labour-intensive economy to one driven by knowledge and innovation.

According to him, achieving this transition requires universities to reassess their curricula, teaching approaches, learning objectives and expected outcomes to reflect changing global realities.

‘’The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s emphasis on developing a knowledge economy and the need for universities to promote creativity, innovation and new ways of solving societal problems.

‘’The initiative will, particularly benefit working professionals, managers and people seeking to acquire new skills or update their knowledge without abandoning their jobs, ‘’ he said.

Akinyemi explained that online education should serve a wider population beyond prospective undergraduates seeking admission through conventional university pathways.

He noted that digital platforms could also support individuals already in employment who want to acquire additional knowledge or update their existing skills.

“Learning is not homogeneous. There are people who have been on a job for a long time and want to learn new things. There are people who have learned and want to unlearn and relearn.

“We are focusing on a particular type of people, not just those who are writing JAMB after graduating from secondary school,” he said.

He identified the hospitality and tourism industries as sectors where online programmes could help managers and other professionals develop additional competencies without interrupting their work schedules.

Bordes, on his part, identified Nigeria’s human capital as its most valuable economic resource, arguing that the country’s people and their capabilities were more important than its oil and mineral wealth.

“The biggest asset Nigeria have as a nation is the smart people that proliferate this country.

“The oil will run out, but the people are what make a nation,” he said.

He emphasised the need to equip young Nigerians with relevant knowledge and practical skills to improve their competitiveness in the international labour market, including access to employment opportunities in multinational companies.

Bordes also called on the government to establish an enabling policy environment that would allow educational institutions and private organisations to develop and introduce innovative solutions without unnecessary restrictions.

“Make policies to make it easy for us to innovate within the space.

‘’We want to make sure that policies are not holding back those institutions from growing and, of course, ensure that they are well funded,” he said.

He further encouraged Nigerians to have greater confidence in domestic universities and support efforts to improve their facilities instead of automatically regarding foreign qualifications as superior.

According to him, increased investment in local universities would strengthen their infrastructure, laboratories and academic capacity, making them more competitive and attractive to international students.

“Believe in your own brand. If you don’t build your own superiority, nobody is going to do it for you,” he said.

Bordes urged Nigerians to recognise the value of indigenous educational institutions and contribute to efforts to establish them as competitive destinations for international education.

He added that Astra Learning remained committed to partnering with universities to improve access to education through technology while maintaining academic standards.

NAN reports that the workshop brought together the academic, technical and administrative leadership of OAU and Astra Learning to align activities relating to curriculum approval, eCampus establishment and student onboarding.

The partnership covers several academic and professional programmes, including online bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Master of Business Administration (MBA), doctoral programmes and professional certificates.

The initiative is expected to expand digital learning opportunities and enable more Nigerians, including working professionals and learners living outside the country, to access university education without the restrictions associated with conventional classroom attendance.

SOURCE: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)