The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment and running of four more programmes at the Distance Learning Centre, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, effective from the 2023–2024 academic session.
The four additional programmes, which are to be run via the Open and Distance Learning mode, are B.Sc. Mass Communication, Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS), Masters in Accounting, and Masters in Disaster and Risk Management (MDRM).
In a statement issued by the Directorate of Public Affairs and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, it was remarked that this addition brought the total number of academic programmes run in the centre since 2020 to 21.
The statement, which quoted a letter from the National Universities Commission (NUC) dated June 11, 2024, and was signed by the Commission’s Ag. Director, Open Distance and e-Learning, Dr Funmilayo Morebise, conveyed approval to the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
“Notification of Result of Programme Pre-validation Assessment Visit to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Distance Learning Centre” explained that the approval followed the programme pre-validation visit to the centre in April by the NUC five-member panel.
The objective of the visit was to assess the human, material, and infrastructural resources available for the delivery of the programmes via open and distance learning (ODL) mode. According to the letter, the panel’s report was considered by the Commission.
“The panel confirmed the availability of the required skilled human resources, learning resources, ICT infrastructure, and a robust learning support framework necessary for the effective delivery of content in the running of the programmes.
“Having considered the panel’s findings and recommendations that the Distance Learning Centre of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has satisfied critical areas of human, ODL infrastructure, and course materials requirements for the commencement of the four proposed programmes via the ODL mode, the commission consequently upholds the recommendations of the panel for the validation of the four proposed programmes,” it said.
The commission also urged the Centre to implement the recommendations made by the panel to further assure quality in the delivery of the programmes.
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