ACETEL, WACREN hold Digital Education Day

The Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in partnership with the West and Central Africa Research and Education Network (WACREN), has held a one-day Digital Education Day programme.

The programme with the theme: “Revitalizing Learning: Digital Education Through Video Integration” in West and Central Africa, was held on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at the NOUN headquarters, Abuja.

NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, in his welcome address, expressed delight that the programme was being held in view of the importance of the topic.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Technology, Innovation and Research (TIR), The VC said, “My administration started the process of integrating video into the contents of each of our over 1,000 courses across all taught programmes at NOUN, a little more than a year ago.

“I am happy to report to this gathering today, that we have achieved over 70% completion rate of integrating video into the contents of our undergraduate courses; and that indeed, our World Bank/AFD facilitated centre, ACETEL, is the leading light in this respect.

“The NOUN mandate, by law, is to deploy Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enable massive access to quality higher education to all who seek knowledge, anywhere, and at their pace.

“This makes ICT inevitable for our delivery of university education to all regardless of race, creed, ability or disability, age, gender, economic background, geographic location, and any other known human barriers to university education. Technology is key to achieving this goal.”

Earlier, the ACETEL director, Prof. Grace Jokthan, welcomed participants to the Digital Education Day, organised through collaboration between the centre and the West and WACREN, as a pre-conference event towards the WACREN 2024 Conference to be held in Abuja.

Describing the programme as a landmark event, Jokthan, said “The agenda for the event is meticulously designed to lead us through an immersive exploration of the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of educational technology.

She said each topic has been carefully sequenced to build upon the last, creating a symphony of insights that promise to redefine the future of learning.

“The collaboration between the Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) and the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) represents a strategic alliance poised to shape the landscape of technology-enhanced learning and research across the African continent,” she said.

According to her, this partnership, blending expertise in educational technology and advanced research network infrastructure, holds immense potential for fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and academic advancement.

There were four (4) sessions with each having panel chairs and discussants, who spoke on various topics.

In the first session chaired by Dr. Robinson Tombari Sibe, titled: Highlights on National and Regional Initiatives on Digital Education; the Chief Strategy Officer, WACREN, Dr. Omo Oiya, spoke on WACREN Video Strategy and NORDUnet Collaboration, Prof. Raymond Bako, who joined the event virtually spoke on Africa Digital Education Network (ADEN), Deputy Director ACETEL, Dr. Johnson Opateye, spoke on ACETEL-WACREN Partnership, while Dr. Damien Alline from Research Institute for Development (IRD), spoke on Africa Digital Campus Conference.

In session two chaired by Prof. Charity Okonkwo, NOUN’s director of Quality Assurance, Prof. Juliet Inegbedion, spoke on Revitalizing Learning: Harnessing Pedagogy in Digital Education, Director, Nsu Community Study Centre, Imo State, Dr. John Oparaduru spoke on Gamification in the Development of Online Resources, Director, Examination and Assessment, Prof. Olugbenga Ojo, spoke on Designing and Implementing Assessment in a Digital Environment.

Third session was chaired by Engineer Kayode Odedina, titled: Sharing Institutional Experience on the Use of Technology in Education, the DVC TIR, Prof. Godwin Akper, spoke on National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Eugene Ezin, spoke on Africa Digital Campus (ADC) Pilot Partner Institutions, Prof. Maissa Mbaye, ACE-MITIC Senegal, spoke on Gaston Berger University (GBU).

The last session was chaired by the CEO, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Mr. Wole Abu, titled: Infrastructural Requirements for Video in Education, Ag. Director, Learning Content Management Systems, Dr. Lukman Bello, spoke on the Overview of NOUN Digital Education Infrastructures and Road Map, while Mr. Mohammed Rudman, CEO, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), spoke on The Role of Internet Exchanges, Backbone Networks and Local Data Storage.

There were questions from participants for panel presenters after each session.

Present at the event were the Chair, WACREN, Dr. Vincent Palanga, CEO, WACREN, Dr. Boubakar, Dr. Joshua Attah (NUC-NgREN), the NOUN VC, Prof. Olufemi Peters represented by the DVC TIR, Prof. Godwin Akper, NOUN Librarian, Dr. Angela Opala, NOUN Registrar, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, represented by Dr. Muyiwa Akintola, the NOUN Bursar, Mr. Nasir Marafa, represented Mr. Samson Shado, deans of faculties, among others.