By Emmanuel Afonne

Helen Kwanashie, a Professor of Pharmacology at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), says the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode of learning democratises education and breaks geographical barriers.

Kwanashie, a professor in the NOUN’s Faculty of Health Sciences, made this submission during a valedictory lecture delivered at the university’s headquarters on Friday in Abuja.

The lecture was titled “From Chalkboards to Digital Networks: A Career Academic’s Forty-Four Year Journey from Face-to-Face Teaching through Open and Distance Education to Social Learning.’’

Kwanashie, in the lecture, traced her four and a half decades of teaching career, marked by dedication and unwavering commitment to learning.

She reflected on how technology had transformed education in the country.

“The chalkboard was my first canvas, but digital networks have allowed me to reach students across Nigeria and beyond.”

Kwanashie said her teaching journey started off in social learning at the Ahmadu Bello University (Abu), got more extensive at NOUN, and finally to advocating for social learning models that foster collaboration and inclusivity.

She provided a comparative analysis of face-to-face learning, ODL, and social learning, emphasising the strengths and challenges of each.

“Face-to-face learning fosters immediate interaction, but ODL democratises education, and breaks geographical barriers.

“Social learning integrates collaborative and technology-driven approaches, creating dynamic learning ecosystems.”

Kwanashie painted a picture of the evolution of teaching tools and methodologies, and her transition from the era of blackboards and chalk, through whiteboards, to the current age of interactive smartboards that have bridged physical and digital learning spaces.

She recounted her impact at NOUN where she presented data that included a compelling chart that demonstrated a general uptick in student performance and a drastic reduction in failure rates during her time as supervisor.

Addressing gender equity, she called for systemic changes at NOUN to support women, particularly those with young children and advocated for the establishment of a crèche to improve attendance and academic performance among female students and staff.

“Empowering women in education requires practical support systems that acknowledge their unique challenges.

“This will envision an “open” educational landscape where technology and inclusivity converge to make learning accessible to all.

“I also use this opportunity to advocate for the establishment of the Drosophila Lab in the university, which utilises Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) as a model for pharmacological research.

“It offers a cost-effective, ethical alternative to mammalian models, and advancing bioscience education and drug discovery.

“The establishment of this lab will position NOUN as a leader in innovative research,” she said.

Kwanashie also spoke on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in counselling and content personalisation, emphasising its role in reducing dissatisfaction and improving student satisfaction in ODL.

On her post-retirement aspirations, the 70-year-old professor shared plans to continue mentoring young academics, expand her Drosophila research, and explore AI-driven counseling to support distance-learning students.

NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, had earlier recounted their shared journey that began at the University of Ibadan and where they had even taken Chemistry classes together.

“Helen and I were classmates in Chemistry; even then, her discipline and seriousness were unmistakable.

“She will sit right at the front — meticulous and incredibly focused; we crossed paths a few times through our careers, and I have been privileged to watch her evolve from a brilliant student to a respected scholar,” he said.

The vice-chancellor lauded Kwanashie as a visionary lecturer who had bridged traditional and digital education and re-affirmed NOUN’s commitment to her recommendations, including the crèche and further development of the Drosophila Lab.

He also praised her for recognising the university’s support, noting that her gratitude reflected the collaborative spirit that defined NOUN. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo