The Distance Learning Institute (DLI) of the University of Lagos on Thursday, August 28, 2025, commemorated World Distance Learning Day with a sensitisation walk on campus and an awareness campaign within the Iwaya-Yaba community. The activities featured a funfair, educational exercises and an outreach programme anchored on the Institute’s conviction that illiteracy can be eradicated through education without borders.
Classrooms without Walls
In her address at the Community Engagement Outreach themed “Improving Access to Education via Open and Distance Learning Mode”, the Director of DLI, Professor Risikat Dauda, described distance learning as “a powerful tool for dismantling barriers to education and building a more inclusive and equitable world.”
Professor Dauda noted that technology has transformed education by creating “a classroom without walls, a library without shelves, and a school without borders,” highlighting the transition from simple correspondence courses to modern, interactive systems such as video conferencing, digital libraries and AI-powered platforms. She affirmed that distance learning is no longer a temporary measure but a permanent and vital component of the global educational ecosystem.
Royal Endorsement for Lifelong Learning
As part of the commemoration, a delegation from the Institute visited the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Suleiman Owolabi Ogun-Oloko, the Olu of Iwaya-Yaba Kingdom, where further advocacy on the importance of education took place.
Dr. Peter Olayiwola of DLI emphasised that “education is the gateway to success, a builder of confidence and discipline, and a creator of opportunities,” while Dr. Adegun Adedunni Omowunmi of DLI highlighted the importance of learner support services, from psychological to social and technical assistance, in sustaining student success.
Speaking on behalf of the Olu of Iwaya-Yaba, his Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Clever Anthony, reaffirmed the King’s passion for education and pledged continued collaboration with UNILAG’s DLI to expand access to knowledge and opportunities.