NUC Advocates Inclusive Digital Transformation in Higher Education

Funmi Ogundare 

The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Chris Maiyaki, has called for the formulation and implementation of policies that prioritise equitable digital access and address barriers faced by marginalised groups. 

He emphasised the importance of continually assessing the impact of digital transformation initiatives on inclusivity, with a focus on data-driven improvements.

Maiyaki made these known at the opening ceremony of the 2024 International Week and the 17th Annual Research Conference at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), themed ‘Inclusive Digital Transformation and the University Promise’.

 It was aimed at exploring the role of technology in creating inclusive learning environments.

According to Maiyaki, the adoption of inclusive digital strategies will allow universities to harness technology to improve learning outcomes, foster community engagement, and align with global best practices. 

He commended the programme as both timely and forward-thinking, given the ongoing transformation of education and industry through technology.

“This event provides an essential platform to examine how digital transformation can drive education, inclusivity and global development,” Maiyaki said. 

“The theme highlights the importance of digital inclusivity in bridging educational gaps, promoting health equity and fostering sustainable partnerships.”

He further noted that the University of Lagos has a crucial role to play in advancing Lagos State as Nigeria’s hub for economic, industrial and technological growth. 

Through talent development, research, innovation and industry partnerships, the university is well-positioned to nurture entrepreneurial ecosystems, he said.

“The UNILAG International Week is a valuable opportunity for stakeholders in higher education to engage in meaningful discussions and address persistent challenges facing international education.

“It also advances the university’s efforts towards internationalization, bringing it closer to its goal of ranking among the world’s top universities,” Maiyaki added.

Earlier in her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola,

explained that the international week is not merely a series of events, it is one of the major ways the institution opens itself up to the world to forge new partnerships and make progressive strides towards cross-border collaboration in academia.

“Each year, we dedicate a week to look back on what we have achieved and discuss strategic ways to make our university globally relevant through international partnerships,” Ogunsola said .

The theme for the programme, she stated, reflects the concrete steps it has taken to integrate technology into every aspect of learning.

According to her, “Two sessions ago, we ran a pilot programme where we obtained 250 licences to give our STEM undergraduates access to courses on Coursera. Last session, it became a fully fledged programme embedded in our courses that allowed our students to enroll in world-class courses from institutions such as the University of California, San Diego, and IBM. 

“We wanted this programme to encourage our undergraduate students to pace their learning in tandem with our traditional curriculum to give them a competitive edge in the digital world. Given the success of this pilot, we have decided to expand its operations to other departments, as we aim to keep our promise to the university to build a future-ready environment.”

Speaking with journalists, the Executive Secretary of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, commended the University of Lagos for its commitment to digital transformation.

He highlighted JAMB’s support through the automation of admission processes but advised caution in the use of online information.

“While digital tools such as generative AI are beneficial, we must complement them with sound human judgment,” Oloyede remarked.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Prof. Olumuyiwa Adesanya, stated that his institution is leveraging technology to enhance administrative processes, including result processing. 

He however, identified challenges related to funding, data accessibility and fostering innovation as areas needing attention.