The director of the Institute of Distance Learning in Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Dr. Omolade Adeleke, announced the commencement of the Institute’s Distance Learning Programme, an initiative designed to expand access to quality university education through technology-driven and flexible learning.
This was made known during an interview between the University’s Directorate of Public Affairs and Communication (DIPAC) and the Director of the Institute of Distance Learning, Dr. Omolade Adeleke.
According to information released on the university website, the Director stated that the establishment of the program had long been planned, compiled with rigorous processes including necessary procedures required to obtain validation and license from the National University Commission(NUC) before commencing operation.
“The journey of FUOYE’s Distance Learning began long ago. There were earlier efforts, but the University could not secure the NUC license required to commence operations. In 2023, the management revived the vision and assigned me to coordinate the process toward approval.”
He emphasized further advancement, attending professional training programmes on distance learning education in the United Kingdom to acquire knowledge, ideas and global best practices for implementation into the system.
The Director noted that the Institution commenced with Business Administration as its pioneer programme while also developing the facilities, manpower, and technological infrastructure required for world-class distance education.
Dr. Omolade Adeleke also cited the quick growth, recording over fifty students already enrolled into the institution.
“Presently, we already have over fifty students. For a newly established programme, this is highly encouraging. Some universities operated their distance learning programmes for years before recording such numbers,” he said.
Speaking about the programme, the director explains that the institutions establishment is to provide flexible learning opportunities for individuals who wish to pursue university education but are unable to enroll in conventional full-time programmes because of work commitments, distance, or other responsibilities.
Dr. Adeleke also stated that the University’s online portal has been improved to support modern distance learning and can compete with systems used outside Nigerian universities.
On affordability, he said the programme costs less than two hundred thousand naira and students are allowed to pay in installments, making it easier for many Nigerians to afford.
He announced that the Institute plans to introduce more courses next session, including Accounting, Public Administration, Computer Science, Mass Communication, and Criminology and Security Studies, after another NUC validation exercise.