Nigeria’s first female professor of computer science, Adenike Osofisan, says adopting smart learning systems could help Nigeria tackle its persistent tertiary admission crisis and boost national productivity.
Speaking at the matriculation ceremony of the West Midlands Open University in Ikeja, Lagos, on Saturday, Prof. Osofisan said more than half of qualified Nigerian youths are denied university admission each year due to limited capacity in conventional institutions.
She said smart learning, which uses Artificial Intelligence to deliver flexible and personalised education, could bridge this gap by expanding access to higher education regardless of age, income, or location.
“Smart learning is not just the future of education, it is the foundation for economic growth,” she said, urging universities to invest in digital infrastructure and train lecturers in technology-driven teaching.
The former director of the University of Ibadan School of Business also called on the National Universities Commission to make ICT proficiency compulsory for all lecturers, warning that poor internet access and inadequate funding could slow progress.
West Midlands Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olumide Longe, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to widening access to quality education. At the same time, former Industry Minister Onikepo Akande and JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede urged students to use their training to drive national development.
