One thing better than dependence on AI is the Open Educational Resources (OER) in Nigeria.
If you’re a student in Nigeria, you already know how expensive and sometimes stressful education can be. Textbooks cost a lot, handouts are sometimes scarce, and internet data doesn’t come cheap, but there is some good news. OER is a growing movement making learning easier, cheaper, and more accessible.
Now, what exactly is OER? Think of it like this: instead of paying thousands of naira for one textbook or handout, you can download a free, high-quality textbook, handout, video lecture, or worksheet online.
OER simply means learning materials that are free to use, adapt, and share. They can be textbooks, lecture slides, lesson notes, videos, quizzes, or even full online courses. The idea is simple, making knowledge free and accessible to everyone, everywhere, every day.
In Nigeria, where many students face challenges like limited resources, poor funding of schools, and unequal access to learning, OER can be a total game-changer. Let’s dive into the 20 key benefits of OER in Nigeria, and then I’ll show you how you (whether you’re in primary, secondary, or university) can actually get them, plus quick tips on checking their quality, and how to reuse them legally.
Table of Contents
20 Benefits of OER in Nigeria
1. Free of Cost
The number one benefit is obvious: OER is free. No need to worry about buying expensive foreign textbooks or paying extra for materials. You can get knowledge without spending a kobo.
2. Accessible Anytime, Anywhere
Whether you’re in Abuja, Sokoto, or a rural village in Potiskum, once you download an OER resource, you can use it offline anytime. This makes it especially helpful in areas where internet access is unstable.
3. Covers All Levels of Education
OER is not only for university students. Primary school pupils can get free storybooks, secondary school students can find WAEC and JAMB prep resources, and undergraduates can access advanced textbooks and research papers.
4. Locally Relevant Content
Nigerian teachers, universities, and even NGOs are now creating OER that reflect our curriculum and realities. For example, the NOUN (National Open University of Nigeria) OER repository and university DSpace portals offer materials based on Nigerian syllabuses.
5. Supports Self-Learning
OER allows you to learn at your own pace. If you didn’t fully understand a topic in class, you can always revisit it through free materials. Secondary students, for example, can re-watch a Khan Academy algebra video until it finally makes sense.
6. Always Updated
Traditional textbooks may take years before new editions come out. With OER, updates are faster. A new scientific discovery today can reflect in an open resource tomorrow.
7. Encourages Collaboration
Students can easily share OER through WhatsApp, Telegram, or Google Drive. Imagine working on a group project and everyone has access to the same free resources.
8. Bridges Education Gaps
Many rural schools lack enough teachers. With OER, pupils can still learn from quality online lessons even if there’s no qualified teacher available.
9. Boosts Creativity
Because OER is open, you’re allowed to adapt it. Teachers can remix a lesson to suit their class, or students can turn lecture notes into creative presentations.
10. Peer-to-Peer Learning
University and secondary school students often form WhatsApp study groups. With OER, sharing past questions, notes, or even recorded lectures becomes much easier.
11. Supports Teachers
Teachers don’t have to start lesson planning from scratch. They can download OER lesson notes, slides, or activity sheets and adapt them to their classrooms.
12. Inclusive for All Learners
Some OER platforms offer audio, video, and text. This makes it easier for students with different abilities. For example, visually impaired students can access audio versions.
13. Improves Digital Skills
Using OER means you will learn how to search online, use educational platforms, and manage files etc. These skills are increasingly important in this digital age.
14. Boosts Research
University students writing projects or dissertations can access free journals, research papers, and e-books. This reduces dependency on expensive foreign journals.
15. Encourages Lifelong Learning
Even after graduation, you can continue learning skills like coding, digital marketing, or entrepreneurship through free OER courses.
16. Saves Time
Instead of waiting for handouts or rushing to photocopy, students can instantly download resources. Parents, too, can access free worksheets for their kids without waiting for schools to provide them.
17. Helps Exam Preparation
From JAMB past questions to WAEC revision guides, OER provides free exam prep materials. Students can practice at home without spending money on every past question booklet.
18. Strengthens Teacher and Student Bond
Teachers can share OER links on class WhatsApp groups, Google Classroom, etc, making it easier to continue learning outside the classroom.
19. Strengthens Nigeria’s Education System
As more Nigerian institutions publish OER, the entire education system benefits. UBEC and other agencies publishing digital teaching aids help standardise learning support across regions.
20. Connects Nigeria to the World
With OER, you’re not limited to local content/knowledge. Nigerian students can access free MIT, Oxford, Harvard, or Yale course materials online, opening the door to global learning.
How to Get OER as a Student in Nigeria
You may ask, where do you actually find these magical free resources? Let’s break it down by student category.
For University Students
- Check your school website: Some Nigerian universities (like NOUN, University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto) have OER repositories. For example, UDUS Sokoto uses the DSpace portal: http://oer.udusok.edu.ng:8080/xmlui/.
- Global OER platforms: Try MIT OpenCourseWare, OpenStax, Coursera (free courses), OER Commons, or the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).
- Nigerian-specific platforms: Look out for free e-libraries such as the Nigerian Virtual Library and TETFund-supported OER initiatives.
For Secondary School Students
- WAEC e-learning: Provides free past questions and guides online.
- Khan Academy & YouTube: Free tutorials on maths, physics, chemistry, and more.
- WhatsApp/Telegram groups: Many Nigerian teachers and students share free e-notes and past questions in groups.
- OER Africa: Has resources that align with African education systems.
For Primary School Pupils
- African Storybook Project: Offers free storybooks in English and African languages, perfect for younger learners.
- British Council Kids: Provides free grammar games, songs, and stories.
- Free Apps: Phonics, counting, and literacy apps available on the Play Store. Parents can download and use them at home.
- UBEC OER Resources: The Universal Basic Education Commission has digital teaching aids for primary and junior classes.
Quick Links: Where to Find OER
In Nigeria, there are hundreds of OER websites that are by far better than AI. Here’s a starter pack of OER websites you can explore right now:
For Nigerian Students
- NOUN OER Repository – http://noun.edu.ng/oer
- Nigerian Virtual Library – http://nigerianvirtuallibrary.com
- UBEC Digital Resources – http://ubeconline.edu.ng
- WAEC e-Learning Portal – http://waeconline.org.ng/e-learning
For African Students
- OER Africa – http://oerafrica.org
- African Storybook Project – http://africanstorybook.org
For Global Access
- MIT OpenCourseWare – http://ocw.mit.edu
- OpenStax – http://openstax.org
- Coursera (free courses) – http://coursera.org (search “free”)
- Khan Academy – http://khanacademy.org
- OER Commons – http://oercommons.org
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) – http://doaj.org
Why Government and Institutions Recommend OER
- Research and program reports across Africa show OER can reduce costs for learners and increase access to course materials.
- University library initiatives that publish OER help expand access for students who cannot afford paid subscriptions or physical books.
How to Reuse OER Legally
Most OER carry Creative Commons (CC) licenses (simple rules) you should check before copying or remixing content:
- CC BY: means you can use and adapt the resource if you credit the author.
- CC BY-SA: means you can remix, but you must share your remix under the same license.
- CC BY-NC: means free to use non-commercially.
- CC0: No restrictions; it’s effectively public domain.
Always check the license on the OER page before you copy, remix, or share.
Quick Quality Checklist: 4 Easy Steps Before You Use an OER
- Author & Institution? (Who made it (a university, teacher, or unknown webpage?)
- Date / Last updated? (Is it recent or very old?)
- License stated? (Can you remix it or only read it?)
- Curriculum fit? (Does it align to WAEC/JAMB or your course outline?)
If a resource fails these checks, look for another copy or ask the author(s) for permission.
Offline & Data-Saving Tips
- Download PDFs when you have Wi-Fi, then read offline.
- Use mobile-friendly sites or apps that offer an “offline” mode.
- Share downloaded OER with classmates via Bluetooth or local Wi-Fi hotspots to save data.
- Use campus or public library Wi-Fi to download large files.
Final Thoughts
OER is like free gold for education in Nigeria. At a time when textbooks are getting more expensive and schools are struggling with resources, OER is providing a lifeline. For university students, it’s a way to access free research materials. For secondary students, it’s an exam prep companion. For primary school children, it’s a chance to fall in love with reading and learning early.
Education is the backbone of development, and with OER, Nigerian students can stand on equal ground with learners around the world. The best part? You don’t need to be rich to access it. All you need is curiosity, a phone (or computer), and sometimes just a bit of internet data.
So, the next time you’re scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, take a few minutes to check out an OER website. You might just find the knowledge that changes your life.
Read also: Cognitive Science And Learning Environment
