The Distance Learning Centre of the University of Ibadan has pledged to continue to pursue the repositioning agenda and the movement to being a true provider of Open Distance Learning as a market leader, not only in Nigeria but also in Africa.

Director of the DLC, Professor Okunade, made the pledge yesterday during the official opening of the newly built complex of the centre at Sasa-Ajibode Road in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The new complex has four halls, 500-capacity waiting room, ten office space, a restaurant, a service centre, three 500KVA power generating sets, state-of-the-art cubicles and integrated premises of wide public address system.

Professor Okunade said in his speech: “It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this magnificent complex which is another feat achieved by the University of Ibadan through its Distance Learning Centre. This complex belongs to the University of Ibadan, but dedicated to the Distance Learning Centre.”

He described UI’s Open Distance Learning (ODL) model as “blended,” explaining: “It is not wholly online, but with limited face-to-face contact. Apart from this, given our high subscription to technology and global best practice, a CBT centre of this magnitude is very important to facilitate our computer based examinations.”

Prof. Okunade noted that the newly built complex holds a lot of promise in solving the problem of space which has been exacerbated by irregularity in the university calendar. He said: “Because of limited capacity of Computer-Based testing centres, this would complement privately provided CBT centres in Ibadan, with the inevitable consequence of conducting our examinations within a shorter period.

“It is clear that this complex is very important to the centre and I have no doubt that it would afford the university a much improved learning environment for all our students and facilitate our quest to remain the best university with a distant second in Nigeria and best in African.”

Commissioning the complex, the State Governor, Senator Isiaka Ajimobi, said: “I am in love with this university and I believe no one can capture the passion I have for this institution. This was the reason why I decided to change my programme for this event. Being here is essential. I have loved to attend University of Ibadan to study Medicine but was not given the course to study. I wonder what the state would have been without this university.”

Ajimobi stated that UI has helped to reposition Oyo State as intellectual capital of Nigeria. He charged the institution to further create a blueprint for economic development which the state needs apart from knowledge-based economy.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Isaac Adewole, described the new complex as an ideal dream and God’s own project considering the way it has evolved.

He said: “This project has gulped up to 200 million naira. And there is another project of 400 million naira going on in Lagos, all from the DLC of this Institution. I appreciate the ingenuity and leadership acumen of the director of the centre who has always tried to reduce leakages in the system.”

According to Prof. Adewole, “There is no any institution in Nigeria that can boast of a facility like this. We are not done yet as many more will come our way. It can contain 1,500 students at a go.”

•Photo shows UI VC, Professor Isaac (3rd left) and Professor Bayo Okunade (4th left) flanked by other principal officers of the institution, at the new complex . . . yesterday in Ibadan.