LAGOS, Nigeria — Tunji Olowolafe, newly invested Pro-Chancellor of Miva Open University, has declared that Nigeria can bridge the widening gap in access to higher education through open and distance learning, describing it as a transformative tool capable of democratising education without compromising academic standards.
Olowolafe made the remarks on Saturday during the institution’s maiden convocation ceremony held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Iganmu, Lagos, where 1,212 students comprising 970 postgraduate and 242 undergraduate students graduated as the Class of 2026.
Speaking shortly after his investiture, Olowolafe described Miva Open University as “a bold and innovative response to the educational challenges confronting Nigeria and Africa,” adding that its mission remains focused on widening access without compromising quality. He stressed that conventional higher education institutions alone cannot meet the educational needs of Nigeria’s rapidly growing population, making open and distance learning an essential component of future education reforms.
“The concept of open and distance learning is not new, but it has often been misunderstood and underutilised despite its enormous potential to expand educational opportunities for millions of people,” Olowolafe said. He cautioned against misconceptions about open learning systems, stating that “democratising education should never be mistaken for lowering standards,” but rather understood as removing barriers while maintaining academic excellence.
He further argued that the future of education lies in creating systems that adapt to students’ realities rather than forcing students to conform to outdated models. “Democratising education does not mean lowering standards. It means refusing to allow the conditions of learning to become a barrier to the quality of learning. It means designing systems that meet students where they are, not systems that demand students rearrange their entire lives to fit a model built for a different era,” he said.
The convocation also featured a keynote address by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who stressed that denying people access to quality education will not only fail individuals but also undermine national development, insisting that education is a right and not a privilege reserved for those born into wealth or with access to greater opportunities.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described open and digital learning as the future of higher education, saying that institutions such as Miva Open University are helping to democratise access to quality education and prepare Nigerians for a rapidly evolving global economy. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, noted that the ceremony marked not only the graduation of the university’s first set of students but also the validation of a bold idea that quality university education could be effectively delivered through technology without being constrained by geography or infrastructure.
The event also featured the investiture of Olowolafe as the first Pro-Chancellor of the university and was attended by the Chancellor of Miva Open University, Sim Shagaya, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tayo Arulogun, Registrar, Lovelyn Okonkwo, and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Adelola, among others. Miva Open University received its operating licence from the National Universities Commission in May 2023 and admitted its first set of students in October 2023.
