The Director of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI), Prof. Uchenna Udeani, said the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has increased enrolment in the institute.
Udeani disclosed this at the blended matriculation ceremony of the institute for the 2021/2022 academic session.
She noted that a total of 4,215 new students had been admitted for the programme.
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According to her, the figure is the highest, when compared to what obtained in the last three years.
The director attributed the surge to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, noting this mode of learning helped with isolation.
“Today, we are matriculating a total of 4,215 students. And in terms of graduating them too, we have been recording between 2000 to 2,500 in the past few years.
“In distance learning mode, our graduation is not like what is obtained with the face to face form of education.
“We graduate them in bits. I can say that each year, we normally graduate between, 2000 to 2500.
“The COVID-19 has increased enrolment. In the past three years. I will say this is the highest number we have admitted in recent times.
I think it is also because of the awareness of online learning, that is the blended learning.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe said, the distance learning Institute had remained a strong arm of the institution where great minds had been built.
According to him, even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the institute was fully equipped for the task of the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programme that would make learning competitive.
He said that the institute had provided the much-needed infrastructure that would enhance teaching and learning, irrespective of where the learners may be.
“As a university, we make bold to say this institution is far ahead of many institutions in terms of the ODL mode of teaching and learning, which has helped to produce great minds, even at the global level.
“These set of students have in no small measure contributed their quota to national development, in various sectors of the university economy. They must not be perceived as second class, because of their mode of learning.
“Remember we started this mode of learning (IDL) through the correspondence program and now with the internet facility, we are getting even better and better by the day. We are not really there yet, but we have done well.
While congratulating the students, he assured them that the institution would expose them to transformational learning that was of international standard.
He added that the institute was headed by the director and her team, who were passionate about developing the students.
Ogundipe noted that they had continued to take necessary steps to provide students with the right atmosphere for success.
“I congratulate you all for having this opportunity to be considered for admission into the University of Lagos, a 21st Century world class University for building excellent minds.
“You are therefore lucky to join the body of excellence. You have indeed made the best choice of your life, to study in this university because it is the best in Nigeria and one of the top rated in Africa.
” We have in place, the finest academic staff and state of the art facilities to ensure our students have the best experience.
The vice chancellor urged the students to be focused, disciplined as well as uphold the academic and moral standard of the university.
“On your part as new entrants, you are expected to keep the flag of the university flying by aligning yourselves to the vision of the University,” he said. (NAN)
