KASU, University of London seal distance learning pact
By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna Kaduna State Government has intensified efforts to reposition its education sector for global competitiveness, with plans to formalise a strategic partnership between Kaduna State University and
By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
Kaduna State Government has intensified efforts to reposition its education sector for global competitiveness, with plans to formalise a strategic partnership between Kaduna State University and University of London on distance and digital learning.
Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, made this known at the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which he said is part of broader reforms aimed at accelerating the transition to a technology-driven education system in the state.
Sambo, in a statement yesterday, said the initiative followed Kaduna’s participation at this year’s edition of the Research in Distance and E-Learning (RIDE) Conference hosted by the University of London.
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He explained that the state government sponsored a high-powered delegation of academics to the conference, where they engaged global experts in digital, blended and distance education.
According to him, the delegation also held strategic sessions with the Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE), described as a leading global hub in online education delivery.
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“The engagement provided a platform for Kaduna State University to showcase its research efforts and opened pathways for institutional collaboration in building capacity for digital and distance learning,” he said.
Sambo added that the proposed MoU would strengthen online and distance education delivery, enhance academic exchange, and deepen joint research between the two institutions.
He said, as part of the partnership, a pilot Central Learning Management System (LMS) would be deployed in KASU to serve as a model for broader implementation across the state’s tertiary education system.
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The commissioner noted that selected academics would undergo specialised training in digital pedagogy and course delivery to align with global best practices.
He further said both institutions would undertake joint research and academic exchange programmes, with CODE providing technical support for digital learning infrastructure.
Sambo said Kaduna’s participation at the RIDE conference validated ongoing reforms in the education sector, particularly the expansion of hybrid learning models and Computer-Based Test (CBT) assessment systems.
He added that the conference also recognised efforts to strengthen the State Schools Quality Assurance Authority through the deployment of digital tools to improve standards and accountability.
The commissioner stressed that the state government remains committed to leveraging technology to widen access to education, especially for out-of-school children, through flexible and distance learning models.
He noted that global best practices now favour blended learning and centralised digital platforms as standard approaches to modern education delivery.
The Kaduna delegation to the conference comprised seven members, including Sambo; President, Nigerian Academy of Science; Vice Chancellor of KASU, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa; and Prof. Bello Ayuba, the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Uba Sani.
Others were Deputy Vice Chancellor of KASU, Prof. Yusha’u Ango; Director-General, KSSQAA, Prof. Usman Abubakar Zaria; and Director, Institute of Education, Kaduna State University, Dr. Fatima Shehu Kabir.
