LECTURERS’ AWARENESS AND UTILISATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING IN THE NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming teaching, learning, 
assessment, and research in Open and Distance Learning (ODL), yet evidence on 
lecturers' awareness and utilisation of AI in the National Open University of Nigeria 
(NOUN) remains limited. This study investigated lecturers' awareness and utilisation 
of AI in the Faculty of Education, NOUN. A descriptive survey design was adopted, 
and a census of all 150 lecturers was conducted using two researcher-developed 
instruments. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and independent 
samples t-test. The findings revealed that lecturers had a high level of AI awareness 
(weighted mean = 2.67) and a high level of AI utilisation (weighted mean = 2.56). 
No significant gender differences were found in lecturers' awareness (t = -0.411, p 
> .05) or utilisation (t = 0.414, p > .05) of AI. Although utilisation was high, it lagged 
slightly behind awareness, suggesting that increased awareness alone may not 
guarantee effective pedagogical integration of AI. The findings underscore the need 
for institutional strategies that move beyond awareness creation to sustained support 
for AI implementation in ODL. The study recommended regular professional 
development programmes, institutional AI policies and ethical guidelines, and 
increased investment in AI-enabled infrastructure to promote effective teaching, 
learner engagement, and research productivity in ODL institutions. 
        
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Open and Distance Learning, Lecturers’ 
Awareness, AI Utilisation, National Open University of Nigeria 
Date of submission: 13 April 2026, Date of acceptance: 13 July 2026,  
Date of publication: 29th July 2026 
url: https://mjdesjournal.com/index.php/mjdes/issue/view/3 
*Corresponding author  
Citation: Olatunji, S.O. (2026). Lecturers' Awareness and Utilisation of Artificial Intelligence Tools in 
the National Open University of Nigeria. Multidisciplinary Journal of Distance Education Studies, 2026, 
3(1), 38-61.