The Pro-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, has urged students to embrace online learning to enable them to combine academic exercise with work and other personal commitments.

According to him, flexible learning offers an opportunity to acquire knowledge without putting one’s life on hold. He said the university’s online learning model was the future of higher education

The Pro-Chancellor, while speaking at the weekend during the institution’s matriculation ceremony, said the rapidly changing world requires continuous learning and skills development throughout one’s career; hence the need for students to take advantage of the institution’s flexible learning structure.

He stated that the traditional model of higher education, which requires students to suspend their jobs, relocate and dedicate years to classroom learning, has excluded many talented Nigerians who could not afford such sacrifices.

He said Miva’s model allows students to earn degrees while running businesses, raising families, caring for ageing parents and maintaining their jobs.

The Pro-Chancellor said the ability to combine work and study would also prepare students for a future in which professional growth increasingly depends on continuous learning.

He urged the matriculating students to approach their studies with the same level of professionalism as their jobs, contribute their real-world experiences to academic discussions and remain committed to completing their programmes.

Olowolafe noted that students brought valuable experiences from their workplaces, businesses and communities, which could enrich their learning and help them apply classroom knowledge to practical challenges.

He, however, warned that the major challenge of online learning was not starting a programme but remaining committed to it despite competing demands.

“The hard part of online learning is not starting – it is staying the course when life gets busy,” he said.

Olowolafe, who said he had also attended the graduation of the university’s pioneer cohort in Lagos in June, described it as a privilege to witness both the graduation of the first set of students and the admission of a new cohort.

He said he believed access to higher education should be open to everyone with the ability to succeed, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

The Pro-Chancellor said the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation had partnered with Miva Open University to establish the Gbemisola Olowolafe Miva Scholarship to ensure that financial constraints did not prevent academically qualified students from pursuing their education.

He urged current and future scholarship beneficiaries, as well as other matriculating students, to justify the opportunity by completing their programmes successfully.

Olowolafe expressed optimism that the students would return to the institution for their convocation, while commending the university’s chancellor, vice-chancellor, council and management for building the institution.