23-year-old internet entrepreneur speaks…‘Age was never a barrier to my success’

Weekend Magazine: At age 23 you decided to try and spread the chance for education to youth through your online institution. What motivated you then?Gossy Ukanwoke: I believe a good education provides greater opportunities for young people to have a better life. I felt that there was a need to engage our young people and […]

Weekend Magazine: At age 23 you decided to try and spread the chance for education to youth through your online institution. What motivated you then?
Gossy Ukanwoke: I believe a good education provides greater opportunities for young people to have a better life. I felt that there was a need to engage our young people and give them a platform to learn, grow and provide for themselves. I believe I am still guided by these principles and even more.
WM: What was the hardest part of the transition from student to educator?
It was never a sudden transition. In the course of my school years and graduation, I had worked with other universities globally in a research capacity in developing Students Circle Network. It was through these research relationships that we can talk about the need for African and by large Nigerian students to gain practical learning that will be useful to them when they graduate.
The most rewarding part of my job is in the success stories that we have generated in the past 2 years. We have had students from West, East and North Africa who we have helped through the provision of practical learning start their own businesses, get better jobs and move up the ladder in the organizations they work for.
WM: What do you envision as the future of teaching and communication on the Internet? 
ICT is changing the way we learn, the way we teach and in entirety, the way we communicate. Teaching and learning are factors of communication and in that light ICT is already transforming both. Teachers will become better guides and students will become better learners when we properly integrate ICT in our learning processes. There are tools that will make the job of the teacher easier and same tools will make the learning process more interesting for the students, whilst improving the quality of education provided.
We are better than we were 10 years ago. There is still so much work to be done. There is need for us to collectively as members of the public, private sector and general public to work together. The sector has a lot of potential to produce the best graduates from this side of the world and if approached properly, we can achieve that.
WM: Was your age a barrier to the success of the school?
Age was never a problem because we were lucky enough as a team to have older more experienced hands who supported and worked with us towards achieving the goals we have set for ourselves. Just like every other business, we have the challenges of funding, finding the right staff and meeting all the requirements of the sector.
Age is not a barrier and never will be. I believe that those who will key into a vision will do so regardless of your age or pedigree. I will say the age worked to my advantage because experienced people I met were eager to help guide me.
WM: What were the biggest misconceptions that people concerning your online institution?
That it was easier: Most people feel online/e-learning provides an easier alternative. However when they kick off a program and see how rigorous the learning process is, they turn around to say that in class learning appears to be easier.
That it was impersonal: Prospective students feel that because they do not get to see each other face to face, that it will be impersonal. However, the internet provides so many channels for communication and interaction. A lot of our students have gone to meet each other outside of the learning platform in real life and have gone on to start businesses together.
WM: How do you balance your work and your personal life?
I know where work starts and ends. I know where my personal life starts and ends.
WM: What recommendations do you have for professors who are not currently using social media in their classes, but would like to get started?
Learn from your students; they know what works best. Also research on the internet and see what other teachers with similar situations are doing and adapt them for your teaching process. Find an efficient team and keep them happy. Map out your goals and work towards accomplishing them one after the other. Let the purpose of your enterprise motivate you.
WM: Are you partnering with any Nigerian educational authority or do you have their backing?
We are working with appropriate authorities to ensure we meet all the set out policy regulations in the higher education industry in Nigeria. The proposed Beni American University is a fully indigenous university and as such is bound by the laws, requirements and guidelines of Nigeria.
WM: What do you think is the future of the Nigerian educational system if the online method is given a chance?
We will have fewer out-of-school youths. We will have more engaged youths and if properly designed, the learning pedagogies can provide practical learning for youths who can use skills they acquire from online learning to create their own businesses and advance their vocation.
WM: How do you recruit your staff, especially the teaching staff?
We look out for young Nigerian professors, PhD holders with experience in online learning delivery and we approach them. Many of these people are looking for ways to give back to the education system that made them. It’s an exciting opportunity for many of them.
WM: Why is it called an American University, not African or even Nigerian?
It is not about locality. It is about the learning models implemented. The proposed Beni American University is designed to integrate some international aspects of the American education system. We believe the world is a global village and as such adding elements that will better prepare our students for the global market will of advantage to them.
At BAU Online, we have programs in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Digital Journalism, Leadership and Management etc that are designed to empower young adults to create their own opportunities. The opportunity is there and it is affordable.
Again, I believe we need to correct something. People constantly confuse BAU Online and The Proposed Beni American University. BAU Online is the provider of online executive programs targeted at recent graduates, managers, professionals and senior executives who need practical skills, entrepreneurial leverage and specialization in their careers. The Proposed Beni American University is the physical private university that we are currently developing in Nigeria. Upon its completion and licensing, it will be a provider of undergraduate degree programs for youths in Nigeria.