Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has called for the establishment of more online universities to address Nigeria’s educational challenges. Speaking at Nexford University’s 2024 graduation ceremony in Lagos, Obi highlighted the critical need for scalable and accessible education to meet the nation’s growing demands.
He stressed that online education offers a sustainable solution to the country’s limited university capacity, pointing out that traditional institutions can only admit about 700,000 students annually out of the two million applicants.
“Countries like Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Bangladesh have online universities that enroll more students than all our universities combined. We need to embrace this model to massively educate our population because education is one of the most important tools for development,” Obi said.
Beyond education, he urged Nigerian leaders to prioritize compassion, competence, and character to improve governance and societal outcomes.
Also present at the event, Okechukwu Enelamah, former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, emphasized that online education removes barriers to learning and prepares students for global opportunities. He described it as transformational and essential for socio-economic progress.
Similarly, Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education and CEO of Human Capital Africa, praised Nexford University’s role in equipping Nigerians and Africans to compete globally. Highlighting Africa’s demographic advantage, Ezekwesili remarked, “Today’s world has an ageing population with an average age of 33, while Africa’s average age is 18.9. By 2050, nearly 85% of the increasing global workforce will come from young Africans.”
These insights underscore the pivotal role online universities can play in addressing Nigeria’s educational and economic challenges, fostering a future-ready workforce for both the continent and the world.
The Students Forum Nigeria serves as the ultimate hub for Nigerian students, fostering academic growth, social engagement, and knowledge sharing.
