Review of Oyesoji Aremu’s ‘My Unibadan Distance Learning Centre Years’, by Michael Olatunbosun |

“My Unibadan Distance Learning Centre Years: A Memoir (2024, John Archers),” is written by Professor Oyesoji Aremu. He is a Counselling and Criminal Justice expert and former Director at the University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre. He has held various academic and professional offices across the academic sphere in Nigeria. He is currently the Acting Vice Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State.

The book is a snapshot of the author’s nine-year stint at the University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre. It is essentially Prof. Aremu’s time as Deputy Director (Academic) and later as the Director of the Centre. The work also presents the author’s thought on Open and Distance Learning education in Nigeria.

In the opening chapter of the book, Aremu gives us a peep into his trajectory through the ranks of the University of Ibadan.

From 1978 when he was appointed as Lecturer Grade II, to his various other appointments, he gives specific timelines and landmark moments of his journey. He then zeroed in to the events leading to his appointment as Deputy Director (Academic) of the Distance Learning Centre. He recalls that he received a call from the then Vice Chancellor, Professor Isaac Adewole, and he was given his letter of appointment on February 22, 2011. This meeting with the Vice Chancellor was witnessed by Prof. Idowu Olayinka, who later became Vice Chancellor.

In the second chapter of the book, Prof Oyesoji Aremu chronicles his time as the Director of the University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre. He reports that his appointment in February 2017 – which came two months earlier than expected – by Prof Olayinka, the Vice Chancellor, was received with great ecstasy by him, his friends, and family. But he also hints at some intriguing happenings and “disturbing events”. (P21)

The author highlights critical steps his administration at the Distance Learning Centre, innovative solutions to tackle nagging challenges, among others. A strong case is made here on the perception and self-esteem of graduates of Open and Distance Education. He argues, for instance, that since the Distance Learning mode is no more “external” but dual-mode, the university needs to revisit and do away with some policies militating against its growth. He writes (p32) that the EO prefix added to the matriculation numbers of students of the University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre is discriminatory and also de-markets the programme. This should change, as things have changed, for the students are no more to be seen as “external”, but part of the parent university. His basis is the fact that they are taught with the same materials and by the same lecturers as the face-to-face students and spend the same duration. The author also discusses in detail, the prejudices and stereotypes held against learners on the open, distance and e-learning mode of education. Covered in the book is an extensive discourse on the psychology and culture of learners on the mode, the staff and management. All this is laid out in the fifth chapter of the book.

The book in its third chapter lays out the intrigues and misgivings the author experienced in the course of initiating reforms in the Centre. Both external and internal interference dogged his attempts at disentangling the Centre from dependence on portal service providers. And the author is bold to mention some scenarios of internal compromise of the ICT infrastructure of the University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre during his tenure as the Director.

Interestingly, the book is described as a memoir by the author, but it is a text and resource material on the subject of open distance and e-learning. The author has in the book, a rich presentation of information and guidelines for establishing and running a university on the open distance education mode. He keys into the work, his expertise and on-the-job experience for all who desire to operate in that sector to learn from, and pitfalls to avoid. So, while giving his story and stewardship, Prof Aremu gives a priceless lecture on the subject of ODL, from a vantage position.

In the book, My Unibadan Distance Learning Centre Years, Professor Aremu also gives the reader detailed trajectory of the Centre. He draws our attention to the policies and mileage achieved by the Centre, especially by the last three administrations of the Centre, including his 2017-2020 stewardship as Director. The milestones and colourful scorecards are detailed in chapter six of the book.

The ninth chapter of the book details the intrigues that followed his exit from the Unibadan Distance Learning Centre as Director. He had served three years as Director from 2017 to 2020, and many friends, colleagues and associates had been whispering that a second tenure was automatically in the offing. However, the appointment did not come as the Vice Chancellor appears to be elusive. The author here expresses the dilemma of his inability to reach his principal for a straightforward answer, until a call from his successor confirmed his fate.

However, a call from Osun State University came soothingly motivating. Like the author states (p146) in the book: “…a season had to end for another to unfold” an offer from Professor Labode Popoola, Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, calmed the nerves. The offer was for a visiting appointment and Acting Director of the Uniosun Distance Learning Unit. Aremu served as Deputy Director (Academic) for six years and as Director of the Unibadan Distance Learning Centre for three years meritoriously, and he believes that “in spite of feats and legacies” he recorded at the UIDLC, “the unprecedented end of my tenure” was in bad taste.

The last of this 10-chapter memoir details the author’s genealogy and life trajectory. It discusses his education and relationships.

Ultimately, the book is an interesting mix of personal encounters, stewardship and information about the author and his service to humanity. It is the story of the author’s evolution from specialisation in Counselling and Criminal Justice to expertise in Open, Distance and e-learning. And in-between, it is a collection of personal encounters which elicit a broad spectrum of emotions. This 199-page book is delicately put together for posterity.

. Olatunbosun can be reached via 0802-351-7565 (SMS and WhatsApp only) and [email protected].

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