ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN AFRICA UNDER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF THE INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TOWARDS BRIDGING LEARNING GAP IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The COVID 19 was a contagious disease without anyendorsed vaccine, at the initial stages, but exigenciescompelled the introduction of preventive measures tocurtail escalation, and such measures later gotrecognition as the „new normal way? of doing things.The paper as such investigates the directives of the UnitedNations and other regulatory bodies as they conceivedpolicies particularly that while the lock down directives wereon, schooling and education should go on by distancearrangement. The paper observes that if education had torun while students studied from home, the role ofInformation communication technology and learningdevices on networking, collaboration and interactionamong students and academic staff cannot be overemphasised.The paper notes that the pre-COVID-19university access was not impressive on account ofinadequate teaching infrastructure and learningenvironment. It argues that infrastructural deficit ratherhindered most states in Africa taking full benefit ofinformation communication technology and the internet for learning. The paper examines the issue of development andlinks it with good governance, investigating if successivegovernments? financial commitments to education in Nigeriahad been adequate. It notes that if states have not done wellin terms of giving the right infrastructure to grow a nation,university education?s prospects of contributing to humancapital enhancement cannot be realised. It observes thatthe high rate of patronage will not be justified with adeclining standard of university education owing to publicsector corruption and inadequate funding. The situation isnot made better by the COVID-19 global pandemic and theinability to explore as appropriate, the online learningfacilities. The hitherto inadequate access has been furthercompounded. The paper adopts doctrinal model ofinvestigation just as it recommends good governance toeffect development. It concludes that non access to teachingfacilities during COVID-19 has further given a boost tothe out-of school children population.