Emmanuel Edukugho
17 July 2008
Lagos — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo leapt to the floor to dance with a cultural group entertaining delegates at the opening of the 2nd African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) Conference and General Assembly, at Ocean View Hall, Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.
About 360 scholars, researchers, and administrators from Africa, USA, UK, Canada, Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong and China attended the 4-day conference, hosted by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
Obasanjo expressed delight as a student of NOUN to be present at the opening ceremony and to give a reflection of his experience in establishing the university.
"This is one occasion in Africa that we have a particular need to find solutions to our problems," adding, "it gives me pleasure to be here to witness this international conference and to address this collection of scholars, researchers, administrators from all over the world, I'm honoured to be here to share my experience."
Referring to the National Policy on Education which made provision for open and distance education to give access to Nigerians to get higher education , the National Open University was established in consonance with the policy in 1983. "Unfortunately, it was suspended in 1984 due to budget stringency.
By 1999, we found the reasons for open university compelling in a country of 140 million in which only 10 percent had access to university education."
He explained that the NOUN which his administration established was to improve on the first one that was suspended bringing in more academic and professional programmes including ICT.
"As a demonstration of my interest and personal belief in the institution, and to show example, I enrolled in 2007."
Chairman of the African Council for Distance Education Executive Governing Board, Professor Barney Pityana, Vice Chancellor, University of South Africa, in his opening speech, referred to what he said Professor Michael Omolewa, Nigeria's Ambassador to UNESCO, told him, that "the conference is a gathering of African people for Africa and for Africans."
According to him, the conference is to celebrate the idea of Distance Education by an African body, supported, upheld by African higher institutions, ministers of education of the African Union, the Association of African Universities, African researchers and universities.
"It is an amazing academic event. Persons, scholars, from Europe, USA, UK, Asia will present papers on Distance Education. 50 papers in 3 days in parallel session. Proceedings will make amazing contribution to knowledge."
Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, Vice Chancellor, NOUN, said that two years after South Africa hoste4d, hosting has come to Nigeria.
"ACDE has come to stay as apex and regulatory arm of Distance Education, an excellent mode of university education. The conference will strengthen and update distance Education and the 10 years plan, bring out the best minds and allow Africa to celebrate her achievement in the journey for Education For All," he stated.
Present were former minsters of education, Professors Tunde Adeniran and Fabian Osuji, Chief Olapade, a friend of Chief Obasanjo and NOUN, Professor Michael Omolewa, envoy to UNESCO who gave the keynote address, members of the Governing Board of ACDE, including Professor Nuhu Yakoub, VC, University of Abuja, VC, Copperbelt University, Zambia, Vice Chancellors, Provosts, rectors from several Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
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