How online learning can help more Nigerians earn university degrees

By Joyce Ekeh

University education can reach more Nigerians through online learning, allowing them to earn degrees without abandoning their jobs, businesses or family responsibilities, Pro-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, has said.

Olowolafe spoke at the university’s 2026 matriculation ceremony in Abuja, where he urged newly admitted students to embrace lifelong learning and remain committed to completing their programmes.

Citing the limitations of the traditional university system, he said many Nigerians had been forced to choose between pursuing higher education and meeting their professional and family obligations, shutting out capable individuals who could contribute to national development.

“For generations, higher education in Nigeria demanded a heavy sacrifice: you had to put your life on hold,” he said.

According to him, Miva’s flexible learning model allows students to combine academic pursuits with work, business and other responsibilities, reflecting the growing need for continuous learning in a rapidly changing professional environment.

“The old pattern of studying for a few years and relying on that single degree for the rest of your career is over. The world moves too fast and continuous learning is now a lifelong requirement,” he said.

The Pro-Chancellor, the first to occupy the position at the university, commended its leadership and management for developing a model designed to accommodate the needs of working Nigerians.

He also highlighted the cost of university education as a barrier to access, pointing to the Gbemisola Olowolafe Miva Scholarship, established by the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation in partnership with the university to support academically qualified students facing financial constraints.

“It is for this reason that the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation and Miva came together to establish the Gbemisola Olowolafe Miva Scholarship so that academic ability — not financial circumstance — determines who gets to learn,” he said.

Olowolafe said the institution’s progress, including the graduation of its pioneer cohort in Lagos in June, demonstrated its mission to make higher education more accessible. He expressed optimism that the newly admitted students would complete their programmes and return for their convocation.

He urged the matriculants to draw on their professional and personal experiences in their studies, noting that knowledge gained from workplaces, businesses and communities could enrich academic discussions and help them address real-life problems.

However, he cautioned that the flexibility of online education required discipline, consistency and determination.

He advised the students to approach their studies with the same professionalism they applied to their jobs, stressing the importance of active participation and commitment to completing their programmes.

Olowolafe also urged them to prepare for internet connectivity challenges, joking that their first major examination might come from their internet service providers rather than their professors.

“The hard part of online learning is not starting — it is staying the course when life gets busy,” he said.

The ceremony featured a keynote address by Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organisation. It was attended by the university’s Founder and Chancellor, Mr Sim Shagaya; Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tayo Arulogun; principal officers; members of the university council; staff; parents and guardians.

According to World Bank and UNESCO data cited in the report, approximately 14.1 per cent of Nigerians aged 25 and above have attained at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, highlighting the limited reach of university-level education in the country.