Pro-Chancellor Declares Education Revolution, Targets Outdated Nigerian University System
- Pro-Chancellor of Miva Open University has called for a radical rethink of higher education delivery in Nigeria
- Olowolafe argued that open and distance learning can expand access without lowering academic standards
- He also urged graduates to embrace lifelong learning while stressing education reforms and national development focus
Newly installed Pro-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, has called for a radical rethink of higher education delivery in Nigeria.
He argued that quality education should be accessible to all regardless of geographical, economic or social barriers.
Source: UGC
Speaking at the maiden convocation ceremony of Miva Open University in Lagos on Saturday, Olowolafe described open and distance learning as a transformative tool capable of democratizing access to education without compromising academic standards.
A physician by training, Olowolafe said the future of education lies in creating systems that adapt to students' realities rather than forcing students to conform to outdated models.
“Democratizing education does not mean lowering standards,” Olowolafe said.
“It means refusing to allow the conditions of learning to become a barrier to the quality of learning. It means designing systems that meet students where they are, not systems that demand students rearrange their entire lives to fit a model built for a different era.”
Olowolafe defends quality in online education
Drawing from Nigeria's educational history, Olowolafe reflected on the vision of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose introduction of free education and educational broadcasting helped expand learning opportunities beyond traditional classrooms.
According to him, Miva Open University represents the modern evolution of that philosophy.
“Where the student cannot travel to the classroom, the classroom must learn to travel to the student,” he said, adding that the institution embodies a model that leverages technology to bridge educational gaps.
The academic challenged the perception of open and distance learning as an inferior alternative to conventional university education, noting that such assumptions have led to underinvestment in a system capable of expanding educational access across Africa.
He maintained that graduates of the institution had undergone rigorous academic training and should take pride in their accomplishments.
“The graduates before me today did not receive a diluted education. They were held to rigorous standards. They were assessed, challenged and stretched,” he said.
“They paid for their own data, sat their own examinations and asked no one for permission to be ambitious.”
Graduates urged to embrace lifelong learning
Olowolafe also highlighted the challenge of maintaining quality amid growing enrolment, describing it as one of the most critical tests facing higher education institutions globally.
Source: UGC
“It is relatively straightforward to deliver excellent education to a small cohort. The difficult thing that separates a serious institution from a merely ambitious one is maintaining that same integrity as the numbers grow,” he noted.
Commending Miva Open University for what he described as its commitment to quality at scale, Olowolafe said the institution had resisted the temptation to sacrifice academic depth in pursuit of expansion.
On the broader state of education in Nigeria, Olowolafe acknowledged recent policy interventions and investments in the sector by the current administration. He expressed optimism that sustained reforms would strengthen educational outcomes across the country.
Addressing the graduating class, he urged them to embrace lifelong learning and serve as ambassadors of the university's vision.
“The credential certifies that you can learn. The real test is whether you keep doing it, deliberately, aggressively, without waiting for an institution to organise it for you,” he charged.
Nigeria’s problem is organised will, not resources - Olowolafe
The academic, who challenged the graduates to contribute meaningfully to national development, said:
“What Nigeria lacks most is not resources. It is organised will. It is people with training, with values, and with the determination to point at something bigger than personal comfort,” he said.
As he assumed office as Pro-Chancellor, Olowolafe pledged to uphold the institution's commitment to both accessibility and excellence, insisting that quality and openness must coexist in the pursuit of educational advancement.
“We do not have to choose between quality and openness, and we will not,” he declared.
He concluded by describing the pioneer graduating class as trailblazers whose achievements would shape the future reputation of the institution.
“You are not just graduates of a university. You are the first chapter of history that has not yet been fully written. Write it well,” he said.
UNILAG graduate earns 5.0 GPA MBA degree
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Omodolapo Lawal, a UNILAG graduate, earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Miva Open University with a perfect 5.0 GPA after 18 months of study.
She recounted balancing academic work with major life changes, including relocation, marriage preparation, pregnancy, and job search, while overcoming doubts about completing the programme.
Source: Legit.ng
