FUTA open distance learning bridging admission gaps, says ODIC director

August 21, 2025 by Tosin Tope, Akure

A Professor of Mathematics and Director, Open and Distance Learning Centre (ODIC) at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State, Felix Ilesanmi Alao, in this interview with our correspondent, Tosin Tope, in Akure, bares his mind on the benefits of the open distance learning programme and its importance to education.

On what brought about ODlC programme in FUTA

Yes. Part of the objectives of the National Policy on Education (NPE) is to ensure the provision of access to quality and quantitative education and with equity in educational opportunities for those who would have been denied. And you would agree that thousands of young, qualified candidates and working-class individuals, who are seeking university admissions could not be absorbed due to limited admission slots. So, the introduction of the Open and Distance Learning Centre (ODLC) is a relief for these categories of people whose hope for access to university education would have been dashed.

The mandate of ODlC programmes

The truth is that the FUTA ODLC core mandate is to replicate the National University Commission (NUC) approved undergraduate programmes and make them available for students who might not have the opportunity and time to undertake full time studies as we currently have. However, it is opportunity that afford them a blended of e-learning environment where they can be taught online and then converge on campus for about four weeks to the end of semester for face-to-face interaction either for an intensive tutorial/practical- to cover for the required contact hours and semester examinations, which is on paper and pen and not computer based examination (CBE)).

How FUTA got NUC approval to run the programmes

It was not an easy task, but following the proposal for the university to become an ODL provider, the establishment of FUTA Open and Distance Learning Centre (ODLC) was approved by the University Senate at its 288th Statutory Meeting on February 27, 2019 and Prof. Peter Adebayo Aborisade was subsequently appointed as the pioneer director. In addition to university senate approval, the BSc Computer Science degree is an NUC accredited and approved programme. The approval was given in October 2023 after the NUC pre-validation (resource verification) team visited in August 2023.

The centre started academic activities in 2023/2024 with admission of 40 students to 100 levels in March 2024. We equally admitted students in 2024/2025. The programme is now in 200 Level. Since its establishment, FUTA ODLC has embarked on strategic plans to ensure its operations become successful. In addition, the university administration ensures that the centre operates in accordance with the NUC guidelines and global best practices. I was appointed director of the centre in August 2022. At present, the FUTA ODLC management team is made up of: the I the director – Prof. F. I. Alao, two Associate Directors (AD) – Professor O. P. Faromika (AD Administration), Dr. Victor Olutayo (AD ICT), a technical coordinator, Dr. Ibrahim Makinde, ICT coordinator, Mr. Olusola Adebowale, a chief clerical officer and an office assistant I.

Why ODIC is concentrating on Computer Science only

The reason is because one of the NUC’s guidelines on ODL is that any university just starting the ODL Mode can only start with one degree programme, which will run for one or two years, depending on the success rate before more degree programmes approved by NUC can be introduced. Subsequent upon this, the University Senate approved ODLC to start with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

The benefit of the programme

Like I said, the introduction of the Open and Distance Learning programme is a relief for the categories of people whose hope for access to university education would have been dashed. Furthermore, the benefits of these programmes include:  flexibility in terms of time and location, allowing learners to balance their studies with work, family, or other responsibilities. Also, Accessibility: ODL programmes can reach learners irrespective of geographical location. Self-paced learning: Learners can progress at their pace, revisiting materials as needed on our learning management system (LMS). It caters for individual learning styles and needs.

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How ODIC is creating awareness about the programme

Well, the FUTA ODLC core mandate is to replicate the National University Commission (NUC) approved undergraduate programmes and make them available for students who might not have the opportunity and time to undertake full time studies as we currently have. To achieve this, the university administration had made concerted efforts at ensuring that the centre operates in accordance with the NUC guidelines and global best practices.

Our ODL mode is a hybrid/blended e-learning where learners are taught online and then converge on campus for about four weeks to the end of every semester for face-to-face interaction for intensive tutorial/practical – to cover required contact hours. I wish to inform the learners that FUTA is at the forefront of using technology to drive learning in the 21st century, flexible learning is our keywords and we are always striving to improve the flexibility of our programme delivery to match our vision.

How the school benefiting from the programme

The gains of the ODL cannot be over-emphasised as it will portray FUTA in the right light as a true university of technology while also improving the university’s IGR tremendously, which will rob positively on staff too. By God’s grace, we are looking forward to admitting students for the BSc. (Computer Science) Degree Programme in the next academic session – 2025/206.

Therefore, FUTA ODLC has been enjoying the cooperation of the university administration, the school of computing, the department of computer science – our key collaborator, and all stakeholders to actualise the dream of a true blended e-learning programme that is of international standard.