Private Open Varsity, Miva, targets Africa’s first one-million-student university

Private Open University, Miva University, Abuja aspires to be Africa’s first one-million-student university without compromising quality. The founder of Miva University, Sim Shagaya, who revealed this said the varsity is set to increase its student population to 20,000 by December 2025, after an expected increase from 10,000 students by May, 2025. He said the target […]

Private Open University, Miva University, Abuja aspires to be Africa’s first one-million-student university without compromising quality.

The founder of Miva University, Sim Shagaya, who revealed this said the varsity is set to increase its student population to 20,000 by December 2025, after an expected increase from 10,000 students by May, 2025.

He said the target to reach one million students is part of their strategic vision for the future of education in Nigeria.

Speaking yesterday during his 50th birthday celebration, which included a special colloquium with the theme, “Legacy of Leadership: Innovating for Impact and Building the Future Through Education and Enterprise,” Shagaya stated his determination to offer the world top-notch university education in Nigeria and beyond, aiming for massive enrollment while maintaining quality through technology-driven solutions.

He explained that the university is watching global advancements in online technical education to implement them in Nigeria.

Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged that past experiences shaped his current vision for education through Miva University and ULesson.

He noted that the challenge of maintaining quality in a rapidly expanding online university and emphasized that Miva is not just a commercial venture but a mission-driven institution aiming for societal impact.

He reassured investors of responsible financial management and making affordable access was provided to subscribers, adding that the university is committed to keeping tuition fees affordable while ensuring high-quality education.

Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Miva University, Prof. Tayo Arulogun, said skills gap in Nigerian school system is a major challenge in the country and explained how the University is addressing it through technology-driven, AI-inclusive, and accessible education.

Arulogun stated that the university adopts blended learning approach as it combines online and hands-on training to enhance learning outcomes.

He disclosed that some of the courses offered in the institution are AI and Critical Thinking Courses, adding that every student must pass courses like Information Literacy and AI and Creative Thinking for graduates to develop problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills.

Meanwhile the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, called on the Federal Government to extend the student loan scheme to private universities.

He noted that expanding the loan scheme would enable Nigerians who are unable to secure admission into government institutions due to limited capacity to access education in private universities.

He further highlighted Nigeria’s education crisis, citing a severe shortage of university spaces and academic staff.

“Nigeria faces a crisis. It’s a big one. Even though we now have more private universities than public universities, over 90 per cent of the students are still in government universities.

“Yet, we have less than 2.5 million people in institutions out of a population that is already 230 million.

“There are people who have argued that for you to really become impactful and to industrialise, at least 5 per cent of the population need to be in institutions of higher learning and technical skills,” he said.

Suleiman stressed the need for innovative solutions to address the crisis, suggesting that technology could be leveraged to increase access to quality education while also making it more affordable.

“We can now effectively have access to faculty from beyond Nigeria’s shores, making education more accessible and affordable for millions of people.

“Education needs to be affordable. We’ve been caught in a situation where you either get free education in government universities, which isn’t always effective, or expensive private education, which isn’t accessible to many”.