Traditionally distance learning has been used to provide educational opportunities for the group of students for whom the usual educational system is not suitable. For example the people who work in different places, studying at home, living in isolated places or people with physical disorder [7] . Distance learning is a procedure of remote learning where teachers and students are far from each other. Students can study by themselves without physically meeting in the classroom; they don’t need to go to schools or universities. With distance learning instruction, teaching and learning can take place even though the teacher and learner are physically separated during the process.

According to [8] , distance learning programs and courses, mainly web-based, have entered the mainstream of higher education. Distance learning commenced in the twenty century and in this learning system everyone in the world in anywhere has opportunities to study autonomously. The use of the multimedia computer network becomes the leading technology of communication, observing a gradual breakdown of traditional barriers in the domain of learning [9] . The more recent distance learning systems are using the hybrid approach by linking different technologies (e-mail, conferencing, Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) material, video link, audio graphics, phone, fax) to provide comprehensive support, with each task matched to an appropriate medium for delivery and fulfilment [10] .

e-learning technologies delivered online courses, seminars, discussion forums and other approaches for an innovative way of learning to interact with instructors and other students. In addition, e-learning is viewed as an innovative method for delivering education electronically and interactive learning environments for anyone, from anyplace and anytime by utilizing the Internet and digital technologies. e-learning also involves the use of ICT infrastructures ([11] [12] ).

According to [13] , e-learning is an educational system for providing learning through electronic technologies especially the Internet. e-learning brings a community of learners together and unrestricted by the time and place where students are able to discuss with other fellows and teachers via online and gather different types of knowledge from the different discussion forums. e-learning is a relatively new phenomenon and is defined as delivering education to students who are not physically present [14] . Rather than being in lecture halls in person, students and teachers can communicate with each other using the Internet. e-learning could be either synchronous or asynchronous or even both.

● Synchronous e-learning: This is when teachers and students communicate in real time by using webcams and microphones for instance. The communication is done live and thus it leaves some room for interaction in the form of students asking questions and getting answers to their questions shortly after. It is interesting to note that since synchronous e-learning is done in real time, it requires a relatively fast Internet connection, something that was not available ten years ago.

● Asynchronous e-learning: This on the other hand is when students can download or stream pre-recorded materials (lectures or written documents for instance). Asynchronous e-learning has its limitations when it comes to interaction between teacher and student [15] .

However, it possess a great advantage in that it offers students more flexibility as students can download lectures and watch them at any point they wish [16] . Communication is also necessary for learning improvement to be an interaction of sharing or exchanging information with each other in learning-teaching process [17] .

For synchronous as well as asynchronous e-learning, the platform that is generally used is an intranet―where lectures and documents can be uploaded and made accessible for everyone within the intranet. However, due to technological development in recent years, new platforms for online learning have been made available.

In an educational context, e-learning platforms are also known as Learning Management Systems (LMSs) which are Internet based software. LMSs allow instructors to manage materials distribution, assignments, communications and other aspects of instructions for their courses [18] . Today, LMSs have become an integral component of the educational systems in most universities and interest is increasing in hybrid approaches that blend in class and online activities as stated in [3] . A LMS is not intended to replace the traditional classroom setting, but its main role is to supplement the traditional lecture with course content that can be accessed from campus or the Internet [19] .

The most popular LMS are Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (MOODLE), Online Learning and Training (OLAT), Claroline, eFront, Blackboard, Share Point LMS [20] .

Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort. This cloud model is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models. Cloud computing isn’t so much a technology as it is the combination of many pre-existing technologies. These technologies have matured at different rates and in different contexts, and were not designed as a coherent whole; however, they have come together to create a technical ecosystem for cloud computing.

There are five major essential characteristics of cloud computing which differs from one cloud computing researcher to another. The five major characteristics are: On-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity and measured service.

The cloud computing concept is also divided into three different service models also referred to as infrastructure models or services delivery models are generally categorized as Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Cloud computing can also be divided on the basis of deployment, level of access, of the cloud services. The deployment models of cloud computing are Private cloud, Public cloud, Community cloud and Hybrid cloud ([21] [23] ).

The application of the Cloud computing technology in educational system has undoubtedly brought a great change in the academic square as it has revolutionalized learning by introducing new paradigm in the field of learning. The Cloud technology has made information sharing and accesses very easy on the universal platform. With the use of a local area network, multiple users can work on the same file; but it can be more interactive, and all encompassing as students from around the globe can participate in the same exercise there by not limited by geographical location.

With the Cloud, documents are not physically hosted on the user’s computer; they can be retrieved from anywhere through an Internet connection. So, working in the cloud means that users don’t need to depend on a particular program or even a specific operating system any more. The only requirement to start working in the cloud is a device with an Internet connection.

Students can share/access a document online, simultaneously interact and discuss with one another on academic issues and equally carryout their test exercises on scheduled date and time. These are part of the collaborative and communicative environments supported by the cloud which creates an adequate educational environment for Students and Lecturers, to improve teaching and learning processes in higher institutions of learning.

Problems of the Existing Systems

The existing learning management systems or applications for academic purposes in most schools in Nigeria where they exist (from analysis) are associated with the following problems or challenges:

* Difficulty in accessing the application via mobile devices.

* Lack of up-to-date course materials for instruction and learning.

* Difficulty in students submitting assignment online and some do not have the platform or such task.

* The existing system is not patronized by the students and Lecturers as it’s time demanding on them, because it requires them to get to a café before accessing the application.

* Most of the existing learning management systems do not have an e-testing platform.

* Lack of available online platform in most schools for instruction and learning for the students.

* Some of the existing mobile applications are difficult to customize as most of them are tailored towards a particular device or operating system.

Functional Requirements

Based on the problems of the existing system, the proposed system should be able to achieve the following functional requirements:

● Downloading of academic e-books and other instructional materials.

● Uploading and submissions of student assignments.

● Serving as a platform for learning and information dissemination via short message service to students using their mobile phone numbers; and also use for advertisement purpose.

● Providing a platform for access control so that only registered students can have access to portal.

● Enabling the conduct of e-test (e-assessment) using the multiple choice question kind of testing and essay type.

● Creating a virtual course room via the Internet which facilitates communication among the participants by allowing students and Lecturer to meet virtually in forum discussion (asynchronically) in Chat. Each post in the forum is identified by its title or reference tag.

Unified Modelling Language (UML) can be seen as a modeling language that is used to model systems using object oriented concepts. A use case diagram is part of the UML set of diagrams and it describes externally the visible behavior of a system and provides a view of the users of the system and the functions that the system must perform; it shows the important actors and functionality of the system [23] . The major actors in the proposed system are administrator, lecturers and students. The use case diagram for the proposed system is shown in Figure 1 which indicates all the tasks carried out by each of them.

■ System Model/Architecture

The mobile application architecture considered for this work is the 3-tier Client/Server architecture for web app built on a cross-platform standard using the web, shown in Figure 2.

At the presentation services tier, Mobile/Handheld devices will be used by the user to access the application via a web browser. It’s at this layer that all information gathering from the user is done and sent to the business services for processing, results of all the business services processing are also received back.

The business services tier serves as the web server where all form of processing is done as inputs are received from the presentation layer. It also Interacts with the data services to perform the business operations and processed results is sent to the presentation tier. At the data services tier the application data is stored, retrieval and maintenance operations are carried out on the data, and integrity of data is also maintained.

■ Proposed System Framework

The mobile app developed is cross platform in nature with regards to operating system, hardware (i.e. handheld devices) and web browsers.

With regard to browsers the application will be no specific browser dependent, as it will allow the contents to be displayed/rendered in any browsers without the loss of originality. The mobile application framework adapted in this paper is shown in Figure 3.

With the app deployed on the Cloud; every wireless client accessed the app in the Cloud from their handheld devices through an Access point (which could be a GSM network, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), etc.).

The likely complexities that should be the focal point and has to be focused on at the course of building this framework are as follows:

● The use of development technologies (programming tools) that is not device dependent, web browser and operating system dependent.

● It should include most if not all learning activities obtainable at the traditional archetype of learning.