By Oluwatope Lawanson

Two education experts have urged the Federal Government to drive Nigeria’s knowledge economy by expanding internet access, providing scholarships, and strengthening universities.

They also called on the government to introduce policies that encouraged private-sector investment in online education, innovation and skills development.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Akanni Akinyemi, and Chief Executive Officer, Astra Learning, Dr Jeff Bordes, made the call on Tuesday in Lagos.

They spoke in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of an academic workshop organised by OAU in partnership with Astra Learning, an educational technology company.

Akinyemi said that the government’s support was necessary to ensure the benefits of digital education reached disadvantaged learners, particularly those in rural communities.

‘’Government should sustain efforts to expand Information and Communication Technology infrastructure and internet connectivity across the country while introducing scholarship schemes for people unable to afford online education, ‘’ he said.

According to him, expanding access to education requires more than increasing student enrolment.

‘’It involves taking learning opportunities to people who cannot participate in conventional university programmes.

“People who want access but cannot afford it, government needs to take care of them.

“Government must also ensure that private organisations are able to partner and work out arrangements to support people who do not have access to education through virtual learning,” he said.

Akinyemi also called for the localisation of online educational content to accommodate learners from different linguistic backgrounds, including those who would prefer to receive instruction in local languages.

He said that such measures would make digital education more inclusive and enable people in different parts of the country to benefit from global learning opportunities.

The don described the OAU-Astra Learning partnership as an important innovation, capable of supporting Nigeria’s transition from a labour-intensive economy to a knowledge-driven economy.

He said that the transition required universities to review their curricula, teaching methods, learning objectives and expected outcomes to reflect emerging global realities.

‘’The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s emphasis on developing a knowledge economy and the need for universities to promote creativity, innovation and new ways of solving societal problems.

‘’The initiative will, particularly benefit working professionals, managers and people seeking to acquire new skills or update their knowledge without abandoning their jobs, ‘’ he said.

He said that online education should not be viewed as a replacement for conventional university education alone, as it also provided opportunities for different categories of learners.

“Learning is not homogeneous. There are people who have been on a job for a long time and want to learn new things. There are people who have learned and want to unlearn and relearn.

“We are focusing on a particular type of people, not just those who are writing JAMB after graduating from secondary school,” he said.

Akinyemi cited the hospitality and tourism sectors as examples of industries where online programmes could help managers and other professionals acquire additional skills without disrupting their work schedules.

On his part, Bordes said that Nigeria’s greatest economic asset was its human capital, rather than its oil and mineral resources.

He, therefore, called for the need to invest in the knowledge and abilities of the country’s population.

“The biggest asset Nigeria have as a nation is the smart people that proliferate this country.

“The oil will run out, but the people are what make a nation,” he said.

He said that equipping young Nigerians with relevant knowledge and skills would enable them to compete for employment opportunities globally, including positions in international companies.

Bordes urged that government to ensure that policies did not restrict the growth of educational institutions and private organisations seeking to introduce innovative solutions into the education sector.

“Make policies to make it easy for us to innovate within the space.

‘’We want to make sure that policies are not holding back those institutions from growing and, of course, ensure that they are well funded,” he said.

He also appealed to Nigerians to develop confidence in local universities and invest in strengthening the facilities, rather than automatically considering foreign qualifications superior.

According to him, greater investment in Nigerian universities will improve the infrastructure, laboratories and academic capacity, making them attractive to international students.

“Believe in your own brand. If you don’t build your own superiority, nobody is going to do it for you,” he said.

Bordes urged Nigerians should recognise the value of local institutions and support efforts to position them as competitive destinations for international education.

He said that Astra Learning was committed to working with universities to make education more accessible through technology while maintaining academic standards.

NAN reports that the workshop brought together the academic, technical and administrative leadership of OAU and Astra Learning to align with curriculum approval, eCampus establishment and student onboarding.

The collaboration covers online programmes at bachelor’s and master’s levels; Master of Business Administration, doctoral programmes and professional certificates among others.

The initiative is expected to strengthen digital learning opportunities.

It will also enable more Nigerians, including working professionals and learners outside the country, to access university education without the limitations of conventional classroom attendance. (NAN)

Edited by Esenvosa Izah