By Abubakar Imam
The Deputy Registrar, Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL), University of Ilorin, Mrs Maymunat B. Zakariyah, has encouraged admission seekers to consider enrolling in the distance learning programme of the University because of its numerous and peculiar advantages.
Mrs Zakariyah gave this advice last Monday (September 1, 2025) while featuring on ‘Registry Half Hour’, a weekly programme of UNILORIN 89.3 FM. The programme, which provides illuminations on the activities of the Registry Unit of the University of Ilorin, was anchored by Miss Bimbo Durojaiye.
The Deputy Registrar enumerated the several comparative advantages of open and distance learning, saying that it is affordable, accessible and flexible.
She said that students do not need to have perpetual physical contact with their lecturers as they can remain in their various homes and offices to receive qualitative and transformative learning.
Mrs Zakariyah also noted that learning through the CODL could be desirable, palatable and attractive, particularly among members of the working class.
She described the Centre and the services it renders as the future of education in Nigeria as learning across the world is tilting towards virtual means as witnessed during the unfortunate COVID-19 pandemic.
Mrs Zakariyah added that the “subjects requirements” expected of prospective enrollees in distance learning is the same as those of students who intend to enroll in regular programmes.
She noted that while the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. (JAMB) regularises admissions into the Centre, candidates do not need to sit for either UTME or Post-UTME screening before they can be admitted.
Mrs Zakariyah, who had also served as the Secretary of the University Resources Management and Development Board (URMDB), said that the Centre is currently running a B.Sc. degree programme in Computer Science.
She said that the quality of services offered by the Centre is the same as those obtainable by regular students adding that the certificate to be issued would also be the same as the one to be earned by regular students because they are being exposed to the same quality and magnitude of learning.
Mrs Zakariyah, who has been the Deputy Registrar of the Centre since 2023, said that efforts are currently going on to increase the number of programmes of the Centre so that more people can embrace and benefit from the system without stress.
Pointing out that the target is to increase the number of the programmes to ten in the shortest possible time, the Deputy Registrar said that efforts have almost been concluded to raise the number of courses to be run by the Centre to five in no distant future.
Mrs Zakariyah, who had equally served as the University Admission Officer, assured the students of the Centre of the readiness of its management to provide them with all that is needed to ensure efficient and effective learning. She said that she and her colleagues are there to provide solutions to the challenges students may face from their matriculation to graduation.
Speaking on other issues, Mrs Zakariyah urged administrative staff of the University to be innovative, committed and disciplined for them to remain relevant.
