Since the advent of the internet and with the recent Covid-19 pandemic, distance learning has became a viable alternative for students looking to avoid face-to-face class room learning.
But only 13 Nigerian universities and educational institutions have so far been given approval to operate both conventional learning and Open and Distance learning (ODL) by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The NUC is the government agency responsible for regulating the activities of universities in Nigeria. It accredits new universities and gives accreditation to courses studied in Nigerian universities.
Distance learning is a method of studying in which lectures are broadcast or lessons are conducted via the internet without the need to attend a school or college in person.
Now the NUC says it has given approval for some universities to operate dual-mode; which refers to universities that can give instructions in the conventional classroom that is face to face, and can also conduct lessons on open and distance learning.
Out of the 43 federal universities, nine were given licenses to run both conventional and ODL centers in Nigeria.
Two state universities were licensed to operate both conventional and ODL centers out of the 48 states universities, and two private universities out of the 79 private universities were given the license to operate the dual-mode system.
This information is particularly important because if you are enrolled in University Distance Learning Center in Nigeria not listed below, you may be in an illegal and unrecognized distance learning program.
The list of 13 NUC approved Distance Learning Centers in Nigeria are as follows:
| S/N | UNIVERSITIES | ODL CENTRES |
| 1 | University of Ibadan, Ibadan | Distance Learning Centre |
| 2 | Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife | Centre for Distance Learning |
| 3 | University of Lagos, Akoka | Distance Learning Institute |
| 4 | University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri | Centre for Distance Learning |
| 5 | Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola | Centre for Distance Learning |
| 6 | University of Abuja, Abuja | Centre for Distance Learning and Continuing Education |
| 7 | Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso | LAUTECH Distance Learning Centre |
| 8 | Ahmadu Bello University Zaria | Distance Learning Centre ABU, Zaria |
| 9 | Lagos State University | Lagos State University Open and Distance Learning and Research Institute |
| 10 | Joseph Ayo Babalola University University | JABU Center for Distance Learning |
| 11 | University of Nigeria Nsukka | UNN Center for Distance and e-Learning |
| 12 | Federal University of Technology Minna | Center for Open Distance and e-Learning |
| 13 | Babcock University Ilishan | Center for Open Distance and e-Learning |
Always endeavor to check the NUC website for information on any university in Nigeria before you part with money and enroll.
