A Professor of Pharmacology at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Helen Ochuko Kwanashie, has said that the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) model helps to democratise education by breaking geographical barriers and expanding access.
Professor Kwanashie, from the Faculty of Health Sciences, made this known while delivering her inaugural lecture on Thursday at the university’s headquarters in Abuja. The lecture, titled ‘From Chalkboards to Digital Networks: A Career Academic’s Forty-Four Year Journey from Face-to-Face Teaching through Open and Distance Education to Social Learning’, chronicled her four-and-a-half-decade career in academia, characterised by dedication and a commitment to transformative learning.
She recounted her early years of face-to-face teaching at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, before transitioning to Open and Distance Learning at NOUN. Her journey, she said, evolved into a broader advocacy for social learning models that promote inclusivity and collaboration.
Reflecting on the role of technology in education, Kwanashie noted that although the chalkboard was her initial teaching tool, digital platforms have allowed her to engage learners across Nigeria and beyond. She remarked that face-to-face learning provides immediate interaction, whereas ODL extends educational opportunities to students regardless of their location.
The professor also highlighted her academic impact at NOUN, sharing data that included a chart showing a marked improvement in student performance and a significant reduction in failure rates under her supervision.
Addressing gender equity in education, she called for systemic reforms within NOUN to better support women, especially those with young children. She advocated the creation of a crèche on campus, stating that such support could improve attendance and academic performance among female students and staff.
“Empowering women in education requires practical support systems that acknowledge their unique challenges,” she said. “We must envision an open educational environment where technology and inclusivity work together to make learning accessible to all.”
