L-R: Prof. Akanni Akinyemi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife; Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Astra Learning, Dr Jeff Bordes; OAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of OAU, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, during an academic workshop organised by the OAU in partnership with Astra Learning in Lagos
The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, says its partnership with Astra Learning will expand access to quality education, strengthen research and administrative efficiency, and prepare learners for the demands of a knowledge-driven economy.
The Vice-Chancellor, OAU, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, said this in an interview on the sideline of an academic workshop organised by the University in partnership with Astra Learning in Lagos on Tuesday.
Bamire said that the University’s partnership with the educational technology company, sought to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into teaching, research and administrative operations.
He said: “Discussions on the partnership began early in the year and the university moved quickly to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) because it realised the partnership’s potential to improve the institution’s overall operations.”
He explained that the initiative would integrate AI into different aspects of the university system, rather than restrict its application to teaching and research only.
“The integration is not for academics alone or research alone. It goes into all the components, including administrative functions.
“It is a holistic approach, and this is exactly what we need to move the system forward,” he said.
The vice-chancellor noted that Astra Learning was selected after engagements with other organisations because of its multidisciplinary approach, existing programme curriculum and capacity to incorporate AI into different areas of learning.
He said the partnership aligned with OAU’s ambition to remain globally competitive and respond to changes affecting students, researchers and university administrators.
According to him, the initiative will take learning beyond the traditional classroom by allowing people to undertake academic programmes from their homes, offices and other convenient locations.
Bamire, however, advocated a hybrid learning arrangement, proposing that about 70 per cent of teaching should be conducted online, while 30 per cent should involve physical engagement.
The vice-chancellor confirmed that successful participants would receive OAU certificates, adding that the programme would be accessible to learners within and outside Nigeria.
Describing OAU as a first-generation University with a strong record of academic and research excellence, he urged Nigerians and international learners to take advantage of its programmes.
“AI is on board now, and AI has to be learned by all. For now, it is not just about learning; it is about using it to solve problems that will impact positively on society,” he said.
Bamire acknowledged that AI could not address every practical learning requirement, stressing the importance of maintaining students’ physical connection with the university.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Astra Learning, Dr Jeff Bordes, said the partnership was part of the company’s strategy to make quality university education more accessible without compromising academic standards.
Bordes said the company was deliberately partnering with leading universities because its business model was built around maintaining the quality of degrees awarded through its e-campus platform.
“Our business model relies on quality because, as we are saying, let’s make education accessible. We do not want to fall into the idea of dilution.
“We want to make sure that whatever degree you acquire, whether a Master’s, Ph.D or undergraduate degree, the quality is the same, if not better,” he said.
He explained that Astra Learning, established in 2009, had evolved from developing educational software into providing investment, expertise and technological tools to help universities transform into accessible digital campuses.
According to him, the company is currently working with two Nigerian universities, OAU and the University of Ibadan.
He added that it was also considering partnerships with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Lagos and other leading institutions in northern Nigeria.
Bordes said the company’s long-term vision was to ensure that Nigerians across the country’s geopolitical zones could access university education without necessarily relocating or leaving their jobs.
He said the initiative would also support professionals seeking career advancement but constrained by the demands of conventional classroom learning.
On the courses available, Bordes listed Master of Business Administration (MBA) in AI, Master of Science (MSc) in AI, MSc in Public Health and Mass Communication, among other programmes.
He said the courses would be tailored to the strengths of individual universities rather than adopting a uniform curriculum across participating institutions.
The Astra Learning chief executive noted that the initiative would also retain traditional academic curriculum while introducing workshops, masterclasses and micro-credentials to equip learners with practical AI skills.
He argued that AI was changing the nature of employment rather than simply eliminating jobs, urging Nigerians to acquire advanced skills that would enable them to remain relevant in the changing workplace.
“AI is not taking anyone’s job. What AI is doing is just removing the ladder,” he said,
He explained that routine tasks previously assigned to entry-level workers were increasingly being handled by AI tools.
Bordes, who disclosed that he currently deployed 113 AI agents to support different aspects of his business operations, said workers needed to develop more advanced skills and focus on creating value.
On affordability, he acknowledged that the cost of accessing quality education remained a major challenge, particularly because the initiative involved bringing international experts to work alongside Nigerian academics.
“My company is exploring ways to balance the cost of delivering quality education with the financial realities of Nigerian learners,” he said.
Bordes further called on the Federal Government to introduce policies that would encourage innovation, support universities and create an enabling environment for private-sector investment in Education.
He urged Nigerians to believe in local universities and invest in strengthening their capacity, rather than automatically considering foreign qualifications superior.
“The money you take to London to study with, is going to make London better. So invest in universities in your country, so that way we can build better walls and better laboratories,” he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of OAU, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, described online learning as an important development in expanding educational opportunities for students and working professionals.
Aderounmu said the platform would enable people who could not attend physical lectures to access learning resources and acquire qualifications while managing other responsibilities.
He dismissed concerns that online learning was inherently inferior to conventional classroom teaching, saying technological facilities and learning modules could provide students with access to quality educational resources.
He explained that academic assessments, including assignments and examinations, would remain essential components of online programmes, just as they are in conventional learning.
According to Aderounmu, online learning also offers students greater flexibility to study at their own pace and explore different learning materials.
“One of the benefits is that you can be working and learning at the same time. Online learning is flexible, and you can learn at your own pace,” he said.
Aderounmu added that learners could complete programmes within shorter periods, depending on their learning abilities and pace, while others could take longer to complete their studies.
He noted that Astra Learning’s experience in the digital education sector, alongside its human and technological resources, made it a suitable partner for the university.
The deputy vice-chancellor expressed confidence that the partnership would help address challenges confronting the university system, particularly by extending educational opportunities to people unable to participate in conventional classroom programmes.
He noted that while physical attendance remained valuable, online platforms offered opportunities for learners to combine education with employment and other commitments without compromising their academic goals.
“The partnership is expected to support the university’s efforts to expand access to education, strengthen its digital infrastructure and equip learners with skills required to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop brought together the academic, technical and administrative leadership of OAU and Astra Learning to align on curriculum approval, eCampus establishment and student onboarding.
Astra Learning is an e-learning and educational technology company founded in 2009, based in Tampa, Florida.
It provides fully managed eCampus solutions, software, and digital resources to higher education institutions globally, with a strong focus on regions across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. (NAN)
