By Gabriel Dike
An educationist and chief executive officer of Divine Doxology Global Limited, Dr. Joel Michael Abba, has described distance learning education (online) as a major avenue to reach out to millions of young Nigerians seeking admission into tertiary institutions in the country.
Dr. Abba, who spoke to The Education Report in his office at Ijoko Lemode, Ogun State, stressed that, presently, the delivery of quality education is gradually shifting out of the conventional physical classroom experience, and advised Nigerian institutions to take advantage of the opportunity.
He said: “Every year, over one million candidates write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), but only a few (about 10 per cent) get admitted in a country with many public and private universities and polytechnics.
“Obviously, those who couldn’t get admission look forward to another year. It shouldn’t be so. Why waste a year waiting to take another UTME when there are other options, such as distance learning through online? The online programmes run different degree programmes, including PhD and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
“The working class and young Nigerians who want to study at their own pace, should look towards distance learning. It is the same qualified lecturers who handle the courses. It is affordable and, in some cases, students are allowed to pay in installments.
Abba explained that many institutions have embraced online education and advised Nigerian institutions not to be left out in the trend, adding: “Education is gradually going beyond teaching in the classrooms.”
He said Divine Doxology Global Limited acts as a partner to three recognized and approved universities in South Dominica, West Indies, Zambia and Republic of Benin, adding that the organisation is also one of Nigeria’s approved centres of the Institute of Commercial Management, United kingdom (ICM-UK).
Abba disclosed that his outfit recruits students for the University of Science, Commence and Business Administration (ESCAE), Porto Novo, Benin Republic, to run degree programmes on full-time basis at the main campus and online.
According to him, ESCAE students go for the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), noting: “We have produced more than 1,000 graduates. Some are pursuing postgraduate programmes while others have finished.”
He explained that more than 200 students are studying different courses online, which has the same entry requirements of five credits, including Maths, English Language and three relevant subjects.
Dr. Abba further revealed that his organisation also partners Ballsbridge University, South Dominica, West Indies, for which it recruits students while the university does the training.
“Besides, we recruit suitably qualified candidates who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers for the award of honorary doctorates (honoris causa).”
For African Research University and University of Africa, Lusaka, Zambia, he said Divine Doxology Global Ltd scouts for students while the institution trains them online for the award of degrees.
Speaking further on the relationship between his company and the Institute of Commercial Management, a London-based professional body established in 1977 and recognized in 180 countries, Abba said, inter alia: “We are a licensed centre, which recruits and trains students for the conferment of professional qualifications at diploma, advanced diploma, graduate diploma and postgraduate diploma levels by the institute and award of membership at the levels of associate, full and fellow membership.”
The CEO used the opportunity to advise young Nigerians and working-class adults to see distance learning as an opportunity to acquire BSc, PGD, MSc, MBA and PhD/DBA through available online education programmes in approved universities.
He said: “In distance learning, we don’t have physical classrooms. Soon, we will not need buildings for the programmes. Our programmes are online, and we have many students, even from Europe and Africa, studying with us.
“The country is ripe for full online education. Some universities are running distance-learning programmes for young Nigerians and workers.
With an Android phone, a student can access online classroom.
“The country is ready to take advantage of the technology and provide quality education via online for millions of people desirous of tertiary education, “he argued.
Speaking on the advantages of online education, Dr. Abba opined that it makes students to study widely, have access to many reading materials, eliminate “copy and paste” syndrome, curtail examination malpractices, open- ended admission exercise, moderate fees including installmental payment and that students must complete their required credit units before they can graduate.
His words: “At Divine Doxology Global Ltd, we don’t joke with quality. Our lecturers are from approved institutions. We have qualified lecturers from public and private universities, some of which are foreign. Lectures are held via zoom and assignments are done and submitted through email.”
Dr. Abba described the mentality of some students wanting to have physical contact with their lecturers as one of the constraints of online education.
“The reason some students want to see their lecturers is to corrupt them. They want to engage in “sorting,” which is not allowed. Our policy is that we don’t allow students have physical access to their project supervisors to avoid compromise.
“We also don’t encourage victimization of students, but encourage the students to bring out the best in them. Our students only get to meet their lecturers during convocation. Students studying online can go to the main campus to continue as full-time students, if they so wish” he added.
Dr. Abba called on students, who have been frustrated by JAMB to take the opportunity offered by online education to acquire BSc, PGD, MSc, PhD/DBA degrees.