Obilade, Titilola T.2015-03-032015-03-032013Obilade, T. (2013). Instructional Technology and Distance Education in Nigeria: Historical Background and a Critical Appraisal. Distance Learning, 10(1).http://hdl.handle.net/10919/51587The purpose of this article is to examine the use of instructional technology in distance education in Nigeria and to trace the historical origins of distance education in Nigeria. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. It is located in West Africa and bordered by Niger to the North, Benin to the West, Cameroon to the East and the Atlantic Ocean on the South. One-third larger than the state of Texas (Infoplease, 2011), it is the sixth largest country in the world. Nigeria had a population of 167 Million in 2011 (National Population Commission Nigeria, 2011). It has 36 states and a Federal Capital territory. The fifth largest producer of crude oil in the world, it has been a member of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 1971 (2010/ 2011 OPEC Statistical Annual Report). Oil is responsible for 20% of its gross product.en-USIn CopyrightInstructional technologyDistance educationNigeriaArticle