E-learning solves resource problem

Nigeria is combating a dearth of academic books and journals through a national virtual library project that is set to serve 18 study centres across the country.

The Nigerian minister for education, Abraham Borishade, said giving the centres access to a digitised library was the only cost-effective way of making sure books were available as Nigeria tried to increase student numbers at a time of dwindling resources.

Professor Borishade gave a keynote address to a conference for the heads of Commonwealth universities in Africa, jointly organised by the University of Abertay Dundee, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Commonwealth of Learning.

"This project aims to bring the latest books, journals, theses and other resources for teaching and learning to the reach of all Nigerian higher education students and staff," he said.

"One other high point of the service is the uploading of books and scholarly journals published in Nigeria to the Nigerian virtual library website.

We want to show the world the good things happening with Nigeria scholarship," he said.