The Kaduna State Government has announced plans to collaborate with the University of London to broaden digital and distance learning opportunities as part of efforts to modernise the state’s education system.
The proposed partnership is expected to support Kaduna’s transition toward a technology-driven and globally competitive education sector.
The Commissioner for Education, Abubakar Sambo, made the disclosure during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Sambo explained that a high-level delegation from the state recently participated in the Research in Distance and E-Learning Conference hosted by the University of London. According to him, the delegation—which included five professors—engaged with international experts in online, blended, and distance education during the conference.
He noted that the state’s participation created an opportunity to exchange ideas with global leaders in digital education and marked an important step toward strengthening education reforms in Kaduna State.
One of the key outcomes of the visit, he said, was a strategic engagement with the Centre for Online and Distance Education, a specialised unit of the university known for its innovations in digital learning. The discussions, according to him, opened the door for a potential academic collaboration between Kaduna State University and the University of London to strengthen digital and distance learning programmes.
He added that the Kaduna State Government intends to formalise the collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the institution.
As part of the proposed partnership, a pilot Central Learning Management System will be introduced at Kaduna State University to serve as the foundation for wider digital learning initiatives. Sambo explained that lecturers and academic staff will also undergo specialised training in digital teaching techniques and online course delivery to enhance the quality of instruction in virtual learning environments.
The collaboration is also expected to promote joint academic research and exchange programmes, with the Centre for Online and Distance Education providing technical expertise to support the development of Kaduna’s digital learning infrastructure.
Sambo further stated that experts at the RIDE conference recognised Kaduna State’s ongoing education reforms, particularly its adoption of hybrid learning models and computer-based testing systems.
According to him, the state plans to deepen the integration of digital tools across its education sector. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand access to education, especially for out-of-school children, through flexible learning systems supported by digital platforms.
Members of the Kaduna delegation included the Vice-Chancellor of Kaduna State University, Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Yusha’u Ango; the Director-General of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority, Usman Abubakar Zaria; and the Director of the Institute of Education at the university, Fatima Shehu Kabir.
The University of London is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading institutions in distance and flexible learning, with a long-standing tradition of offering international academic programmes that allow students to study remotely from different parts of the world.
Its distance learning framework enables universities and governments to broaden access to higher education through digital platforms, blended learning systems, and online course delivery.
