Festschrift, Foundation Unveiled as UNILAG Honours Prof. Udeani’s Legacy in Digital Education
Family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers on Tuesday gathered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to celebrate the academic legacy of Prof. Uchenna Udeani, immediate past Director of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI), with the unveiling of a Festschrift and the launch of a foundation in her honour.
The event, held as part of activities marking her 70th birthday and formal disengagement from the university after years of meritorious service, spotlighted Prof. Udeani’s enduring contributions to digital education, inclusion and access to learning.
The book, Digital Transformation in Education: Navigating the New Frontier, a 706-page Festschrift edited in her honour, was reviewed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Innovation and Research), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Christine Ofulue. She described the volume as a critical resource for advancing technology-driven education in Nigeria.
Prof. Ofulue stressed that meaningful digital transformation in education requires deliberate planning, sustained investment and inclusive frameworks, rather than the mere deployment of technological tools.
“The book, with about 35 chapters grouped into four sections—STEM, discipline-based studies, entrepreneurship pedagogy and related areas—shows clearly that digital transformation is not a one-size-fits-all solution,” she said. “Learning, teaching and assessment must be intentionally designed to address learners in different contexts if inclusion and equity are to be achieved.”
According to her, the contributions, drawn from diverse fields including educational technology, business and science education, offer practical frameworks for policymakers, researchers and classroom practitioners seeking to deepen learner engagement and prepare students for a technology-driven future.
She noted that while the book focuses largely on the Nigerian context, this aligns with its objective of proffering homegrown solutions to local educational challenges.
In her remarks, Hon. Justice Uzo Ndukwe-Anyanwu (OFR), retired Justice of the Court of Appeal and sibling of the honouree, described the occasion as a celebration of “a life of purpose, excellence and impact.”
She said the Festschrift went beyond academic essays to reflect Prof. Udeani’s influence as a mentor and leader. “Each contribution is a heartfelt recognition of how her work and humanity have touched lives within and beyond the academic community,” she said, adding that her retirement marked “not an ending, but the beginning of a new season.”
The event also featured the unveiling of the Prof. Uchenna Udeani Foundation, aimed at sustaining her commitment to education, research and human development. The foundation was unveiled by the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG and Chairman, Governing Council of Redeemer’s University, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
Prof. Ogundipe described the foundation as a platform that transcends physical structures, embodying Prof. Udeani’s lifelong dedication to scholarship and service. “It is a beacon of hope and a reminder that true greatness lies in what we build for others,” he said.
Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), UNILAG, Prof. Lucian Chukwu, in his remarks, hailed Prof. Udeani as a scholar whose career exemplified intellectual rigour, quiet excellence and visionary leadership.
He highlighted her advocacy for gender inclusion in STEM and her tenure as Director of the Distance Learning Institute, during which she expanded access to education while maintaining quality and standards.
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“Today’s celebration is both academic and deeply human,” Prof. Chukwu said. “This Festschrift and the unveiling of the Uchenna Nkiruka Udeani Foundation stand as enduring testaments to a life devoted to knowledge, equity and service.”
The ceremony, attended by academics, jurists, family members and friends, underscored Prof. Udeani’s lasting imprint on digital learning, gender inclusion and educational leadership in Nigeria.
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