The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Folashade Ogunsola, said on Thursday that the realisation of the African Union 2063 Agenda requires an educated polity.

Ms Ogunsola made the assertion in her welcome address at the Fourth International Colloquium of the Distant Learning Institute (DLI) of UNILAG.

The colloquium held at UNILAG with the theme ‘Future-Proofing Open, Flexible and Distance Learning: Balancing Innovation, Inclusion and Sustainability.’

An educated polity refers to a political community where citizens possess sufficient knowledge, skills and values to understand and engage effectively in the political process, contributing to a more informed, democratic and efficient governance system.

The African Union 2063 Agenda is a strategic framework for the continent’s transformation into a prosperous, peaceful and integrated global power by 2063.

Adopted in 2015, the agenda is guided by seven aspirations and numerous projects aimed at achieving sustainable development, social and economic growth, good governance, and unity across Africa.

Ms Ogunsola said that efforts should be made to educate the populace to equip them to contribute to Africa’s development.

She expressed delight that Africa was beginning to come out from the shackles of colonialism and was seeing pride in itself.

“A number of things are happening in the world today, and Africa is beginning to see the pride in itself,” she said.

She said that Nigeria had the responsibility to ensure the education of all its citizens so they could contribute their quotas to the country’s advancement.

She said that UNILAG had a vision to reach people everywhere; hence, the establishment of its DLI, which, she said, had grown and fully embraced.

The DLI Director, Risikat Daudu, said that the theme of the colloquium was apt and addressed the future of education in Nigeria and Africa at large.

She said, “Education has always had the power to change things. In Nigeria, technology has served as a bridge that connects everyday lives to remarkable possibilities.’’

Ms Daudu described education as a ladder that had helped many people to escape poverty and a tool that empowered communities.

“As we gather here today, however, we must ask ourselves: How can we guarantee that the promise of education reaches every Nigerian child, working professionals, rural residents, and the marginalised voice? This is irrespective of socio-economic background, gender, ability or distance. Rethinking Open, Flexible, and Distance Learning (OFDL) and making sure it is creative, inclusive and sustainable is the solution,” she said.

A retired professor of science and chemistry education at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa, Chukunoye Ochonogor, said that OFDL removed traditional barriers to learning by providing education remotely.

He said, “This is to enable all persons of different ages, locations, and economic and qualification backgrounds to learn and acquire higher skills and qualifications at their own pace.’’

He recommended more investment in infrastructure for OFDL for equitable access.

He stated, “Train educators in inclusive and sustainable digital pedagogy. The world is rapidly evolving into a digitally interconnected society, primarily shaped by the ‘Generation Z (Gen Z)’ and Generation Alpha cohorts and the ongoing technological revolutions.”
(NAN)