The University of Ilorin in Nigeria, with the support of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), recently hosted a three-day workshop to develop an institutional open educational resources (OER) policy document. The workshop, held in January 2023 at the University’s Centre for Open and Distance Learning, brought together 46 participants. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, inaugurated the workshop.

According to Professor Bashiru A. Omipidan, Director of the Centre for Open and Distance Learning, the workshop not only enhanced the capacity of the Centre and stakeholders towards policy development, but also gave the entire University community an OER policy. Professor Omenogo Veronica Mejabi, one of the participants, expressed her satisfaction with the pre-workshop task of completing the self-learning online course on ‘Understanding Open Educational Resources,’ which allowed her to familiarize herself with the terms and concepts of OER in a relaxed manner.

Another participant, Dr Onasoga Olayinka, who had no prior experience with OER, praised the workshop as an “excellent experience” that was “very informative and educative.” Professor Jane-Frances Agbu, Adviser on Higher Education at COL said, “As an acknowledged leader in OER, COL enables the implementation of OER in partner institutions with targeted activities that builds up to long-term impact.”

Overall, the University of Ilorin’s collaboration with COL has successfully led to the development of an OER policy document and an increased awareness of OER among the university’s stakeholders.