NUC allays fears on varsities’ e-learning programmes

NUCTHE National Universities Commission (NUC) has allayed fears and doubts concerning the legitimacy of the e-Learning programmes being run in some universities in the country.

Director, Corporate Communications of the commission, Mr Ibrahim Yakasai, said NUC had duly approved the running of the e-Learning degree programmes in four universities in Nigeria.

He, however, told Tribune Education that the commission still maintains its stand that online degrees are not acceptable in Nigeria at the moment.

Yakasai explained that this ban on online degrees does not include the approved Nigerian universities’ e-Learning programmes.

He listed the four universities running the e-Learning degree programmes to include University of Jos, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and the University of Maiduguri.

Yakasai said that the Nigerian e-Learning programme is a legitimate and well thought out pilot e-Learning initiative run within the shores of Nigeria.

He said it is a public private partnership between the NUC, Park Associate E-Learning Group and the four federal universities, with the goal of providing new opportunities for students to access university education in Nigeria.

He said: “Students enrolled in the programme can select any of the following undergraduate degree programmes: Economics, Banking & Finance, Accounting Business Administration and Marketing for which they have requisite qualifications.

“This is one of the avenues that the National Universities Commission is exploring to increase access to university education without compromising quality.

“Students in the programme are, therefore, advised to continue to pursue their studies without fear, and prospective applicants are encouraged to enroll.”