In highlighting open and distance education in Nigeria, Babcock University’s Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning (BUCODeL) has held its first-ever convocation ceremony, marking a shift in how Nigerians access higher education through technology.
Speaking during the convocation, Professor Mobolanle Sotunsa, Director of BUCODeL, credited the company with being a cornerstone in the institution’s digital journey.
“To our industry partner, EdutechBusiness, we say thank you for walking hand in hand with us from inception. Your technical expertise, responsiveness, and professionalism have been instrumental in our growth and digital transformation,” she said.
According to her, Edutech Business contributed in multiple ways. It developed a tech-enabled recruitment and advisory model that enabled students from remote and underserved communities to enrol in BUCODeL programmes. It also worked closely with academic staff to transform traditional course content into interactive, mobile-friendly digital materials, ensuring students received a rich, accessible learning experience.
In addition to supporting students, the company invested in training lecturers and instructional designers, equipping them to teach, assess, and mentor learners in virtual environments. It also built the technology backbone that supports BUCODeL’s operations, real-time communication tools, virtual classrooms, and other infrastructure critical to keeping the learning process seamless and reliable.
Reflecting on the collaboration, General Manager of Edutech Business, Moyosore Asubiojo, said: “We are proud to have played a role in this journey, supporting student recruitment, powering the learning experience through Vigilearn’s robust learning platforms, and transforming the experience of learners, tutors and administrators alike.”
Awards were also presented to outstanding individuals, including Rukiyat Suilemon, named Best Student in Accounting, and Oluwaseyin Ogunseitan, honoured as Best MBA Student. The Excellence in E-Tutoring and Learner Engagement award went to Dr. Emeka Akpa, Dr. Chinanu Emmanuel, Dr. Abiola Omosigho, and Ms. Titi Adebayo, each recognised for their dedication to learner-centred digital instruction.
The convocation also featured a keynote address by Chris Maiyaki, Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration) of the National Universities Commission (NUC), who spoke on the theme “Digital Learning for Global Impact.” He lauded BUCODeL’s emergence as a national model and its ability to push the boundaries of traditional education.
“BUCODeL stands out today as a model of what is possible when vision, structure, and dedication come together. Digital learning reimagines the spaces and experiences of teaching and learning by collapsing the idea of classrooms and campuses into a boundless, borderless, and vibrant ecosystem of teachers and learners—at any time and any place,” he said.
Maiyaki stressed the need for deliberate investment in broadband, stable electricity, and updated hardware, pointing out that policy must also keep pace. He called for an inclusive, affordable framework for digital learning to close the education gap between urban and rural Nigeria.
