The launch of the Lagos center underscores the university's commitment to expanding access to quality tertiary education, directly addressing the substantial deficit in university capacity within Nigeria.
At the commissioning ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Professor Tayo Arulogun, highlighted the strategic importance of integrating both online and physical learning environments. "We believe that when people are learning at a distance, they should be able to come to a physical location, interact with themselves, and learn from others," Professor Arulogun emphasized.
The newly established Lagos center is equipped with cutting-edge computer-based testing (CBT) facilities and will soon feature a donated virtual laboratory specifically for computer science students. This infrastructure is designed to provide crucial hands-on learning opportunities, complementing Miva's primarily digital educational model.
The Chancellor of Miva Open University, Sim Shagaya, underscored the urgent need for increased access to tertiary education in Nigeria. "Out of the 2.2 million Nigerians who sat for the UTME exams, only 600,000 university seats are available. We’re leveraging technology and AI to serve the 1.5 million students who qualify for university admission each year but lack access," Shagaya stated, highlighting the scale of the educational gap the university aims to address.
Shagaya also emphasized the university's focus on AI literacy and its responsible implementation of artificial intelligence within its educational framework. "We’ve meticulously defined the data pool for AI, ensuring it exclusively utilizes approved and accurate information. Furthermore, we’ve implemented robust guardrails to actively prevent AI from disseminating inaccurate or unethical content," he explained, assuring the integrity of their AI-driven learning tools.
Providing insights into the university's impressive enrollment growth, the Chief People Officer of Miva Open University, Oladipo Olugbemi, shared their projections. "We had 500 students in 2023, and by the end of 2024, we reached 5,000 students. We are projecting 10,000 students by the end of the first half of 2025 and are currently on track to surpass this target. Our ambitious goal is to have over 100,000 enrolled students by the end of 2027," Olugbemi revealed.
Olugbemi also highlighted the affordability of Miva Open University's tuition fees, which range from N300,000 to N350,000 per year for undergraduate programs, with MBA programs costing under N1 million. Notably, Miva Open University welcomes direct entry students, and all its academic courses have received the crucial accreditation of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Demonstrating its commitment to expanding its academic offerings, the university has introduced two new NUC-approved postgraduate courses this year: a Masters in Public Health and a Masters of Information Technology, both of which have already commenced enrollment.
Looking ahead, Miva Open University plans to establish community centers across different geopolitical zones in Nigeria. This strategic initiative will provide students with enhanced access to essential resources and support networks, further solidifying the university's commitment to accessible and quality education. With its innovative blend of online learning and physical support, coupled with its ambitious growth targets, Miva Open University is poised to play a transformative role in the future of higher education in Nigeria.