Oko Polytechnic Adopts Digital Learning with Blackboard

The Federal Polytechnic Oko has commenced comprehensive training for over 200 academic staff on the use of the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS), marking a significant step toward transitioning to a fully digital learning environment from the next academic session. The initiative is part of the institution’s broader education reform agenda, under the leadership of Rector Dr Chioma Irene Awuzie, who has prioritised digital transformation, academic reinvention, and staff development since assuming office in February 2025. The training, held at the Polytechnic’s ICT Academy and sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), aims to equip lecturers with the skills necessary to deliver courses effectively using the Blackboard LMS platform.

Speaking on behalf of the Rector at the opening of the training, Dr Nkiru Akabuike, Deputy Rector (Academic), announced that only staff with institutional email addresses and full digital access will be permitted to teach from the next academic session. She added that the era of analogue result processing is over, noting that result backlogs had already been cleared. “Our institution is going fully digital in teaching and learning. This training is essential, not optional. Any staff who does not have an institutional email and is not digitally compliant will not be allowed in the classroom,” she said.

Dr Akabuike also warned against the use of artificial intelligence for generating examination questions, stressing that lecturers must be personally responsible for the content of their examinations. “AI must not be used to produce examination questions. Anyone found culpable will be held accountable for any leakages,” she added. She described the training as a turning point for the institution, noting that the backlog of uncomputed results encountered at the start of Dr Awuzie’s administration had been addressed through the Rector’s declaration of a “state of emergency” on academic records. The training facilitator, Mrs. Blessing Amadi, described Blackboard LMS as a globally recognised platform that enables digital course delivery, assessments, and grading. She emphasised its capacity to support calculation-based courses and practical subjects involving drawings and illustrations.

Dr Amobi Chiamogu, Director of ICT at the Polytechnic, stated that the training was a result of post-COVID lessons and part of a long-term goal to enhance digital education in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. He urged participants to generate original content and fully embrace the tools made available to them. The Blackboard LMS platform will enable the institution to deliver instruction, manage coursework, and assess students remotely, aligning Federal Polytechnic Oko with global best practices in higher education.