NSE links setback in Nigeria’s e-learning to epileptic power supply, others

Epileptic power supply and poor Internet systems have been identified as the cause of setback for e-learning in the post COVID-19 pandemic learning environment.

This was the verdict of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) at the late John Egbe’s fourth Memorial Lecture at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) with the theme: Re-Engineering A Sustainable And User Friendly E-Learning Approach Post-COVID-19 Era.

A former NSE Chairman in Lagos and Vice President, Council of Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, said government should do more to put in place adequate measures to achieve e-learning.

She said poor power supply system remained one of the problems of
e-learning in the country, noting that unless there was constant electricity supply, e-learning could not be attained.

Oguntala, who represented the National President of COREN, Ali Rabiu, said: “If students cannot charge their laptops or phones, there is no way they could participate in e-learning. So it is important that the government does a lot more than it is doing right now.

“Internet connectivity is another problem, so the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) also needs to look at that. The commission should also see it as its cooperate social responsibility (CSR) by providing free WIFI for some institutions.”

She explained that the event was organised to honour the pioneer chairman of the NSE, who did a lot to build a good foundation for the branch, adding that the theme reflected the present situation in the country and globally in visual learning.

Chairman of the Calabar branch of NSE, Ndifon Agbiji, said the event was to commemorate the fourth memorial lecture of the late Egbe and induction of new members into the association.

He said the theme of the event was carefully chosen because of the present situation in the country and the world and how it had affected the education sector.

Professor of African Arts and Visual Culture, University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Prof. Babson Ajibade in his paper titled: UNICROSS E-learning Approach In The Wake Of COVID-19 Era, said considering the epileptic power supply in Nigeria, students should have a positive mindset by first accepting e-learning.

Ajibade said the epileptic power supply should not be a hindrance to students as the world was changing from traditional way of learning to e-learning system.

“Children must first accept
e-learning, because it will not accept them if they don’t accept it. The mindset is number one, as the world is fast changing and everyone has to change,” he said.

National President of NSE, Babagana Mohammed, via Zoom, said the theme of the event was apt, stating that educational institutions needed to key into the new system of learning.

Also speaking, daughter of the late Egbe, Dr. Muyi Egbe, thanked the association for honouring her father with the annual lecture, adding that her father left inspiring footprint for younger generations to emulate.