Distance learning, access-widening to varsity education – Ambali

Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has identifi ed distance learning as source of widening access to university education. Ambali also said the system could satisfy social responsibilities to communities as well as being a major source of internally generated revenue for higher institutions. He made the observation while declaring open a twoday workshop organised by the Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL) of the university, in conjunction with the Centre for Research Development and In-House Training (CREDIT) for staff of CODL as well as the academic staff of the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences. Th e VC, who was represented by the Deputy Vice –Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Gabriel Olatunji, noted that the Centre could be a main contributor to a university’s internally generated revenue. According to the university’s weekly bulletin made available to Blueprint, Ambali stressed management’s willingness to adequately fund the centre, but the eff ort had been hampered by the general poor economic condition of the country. However, promised that the management would do its best to ensure that the Centre was made fi nancially buoyant, especially with the expected collaboration with the Institute of Education. Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of CODL, Professor Ayodele Fajonyomi, stated that the workshop was orgarnised to acquaint new staff of the centre and the department of computer science with the required knowledge and skill in open and distance learning delivery.