The National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education Students (NANCES) and National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have called for the expansion of the Electronic Education Initiative (E-DON) to universities and polytechnics nationwide.

The three student bodies made the demand at a joint world press conference at the weekend, where they also commended E-DON as a notable development capable of strengthening digital teaching and learning across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

The Joint Union called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Committee of Vice Chancellors to adopt the initiative across Nigerian universities.

They similarly appealed to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Committee of Rectors to extend E-DON to polytechnics nationwide.

The students also proposed that the initiative be deployed to at least one lecture hall in every department of every tertiary institution, saying wider access would ensure that more students benefit from digital and interactive learning.

According to them, expanding E-DON across all categories of tertiary institutions would strengthen Nigeria’s digital education ecosystem and expose students to international academic linkages through virtual live lectures with partner institutions around the world.

The student leaders said E-DON had demonstrated its potential in several Colleges of Education across the geopolitical zones, adding that wider adoption would further enhance modern, technology-driven teaching and learning.

They particularly commended the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Dr. Angela Ajala, the Committee of Provosts and other stakeholders for supporting the implementation of E-DON across Colleges of Education in the country.

The Joint Union described the initiative as capable of promoting global education partnerships through virtual live interactive classrooms while improving the ability of Nigerian students and faculty to compete favourably with their counterparts globally.

They said wider deployment of E-DON would also help tertiary institutions gradually move away from conventional learning methods and embrace digital technologies that reflect developments in modern education.

E-DON promotes indigenous educational technology and interactive digital learning solutions through tools including 3D animation simulation software and QR interactive Smartboards.

The student bodies also appealed to state governors to urgently resolve disputes involving the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) in state-owned institutions.

They said prolonged industrial disputes and strikes negatively affect students’ academic programmes and have wider implications for the tertiary education system.

The Joint Union further commended the Minister of Education for what they described as efforts towards repositioning Nigeria’s education sector.

The students thereby stressed that sustained investment in digital infrastructure and innovative educational technologies would help create learning environments capable of preparing Nigerian students for an increasingly technology-driven global economy.