Get Guardian on GoogleThe University of Nigeria Business School (UNNBS) is seeking to strengthen its digital learning capacity and professional education offerings through an expanded partnership with the International School of Deposit Insurance Studies (ISDIS).
The Director of UNNBS, Enugu Campus, Prof. Robinson Onuoha-Ugwuoke, gave the indication during a strategic visit to ISDIS headquarters in Abuja, saying the school was positioning itself to compete with leading business institutions in Nigeria and beyond.
Onuoha-Ugwuoke, who described his appointment as an opportunity to build on the University of Nigeria’s reputation, said his ambition was to make UNNBS a leading centre for business education in Africa and a recognised global brand.
“My vision is to make the UNN Business School stand out as number one business education centre, not just in Nigeria and West Africa, but to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with renowned business schools anywhere in the world,” he said.
A major plank of that ambition, he said, was expanding access through digital learning, with more than 75 per cent of the school’s contact hours already delivered online.
“Most of our programmes are taught online. Presently, we have more than 75 per cent of our contact [hours] done online,” he said, adding that the arrangement allows students to enrol from different locations and attend lectures remotely.
He said the school also intended to equip professionals with the knowledge, skills, integrity and character required to excel in business, public service, politics and other fields.
The visit, his first to ISDIS since assuming office, was also aimed at reviewing and strengthening the institutions’ existing partnership, particularly the professional Certificate in Deposit Protection and Financial Intelligence (CDPFI).
The programme, jointly delivered by UNNBS and ISDIS, was pre-launched in 2025 to gauge the response of prospective participants and the wider market. It is designed to address knowledge gaps in financial intelligence, deposit protection and risk management across the financial services sector.
During the visit, Onuoha-Ugwuoke toured ISDIS facilities with its Dean of Research, Dr. Kingsley Nwaigwe, and Dean of Technology, Mr. Amu Ogbeide. The team also demonstrated the ISDIS online learning platform for professional education, powered by Sapphital Limited.
Onuoha-Ugwuoke said the visit was necessary to assess ISDIS’s capacity and identify opportunities and challenges before deepening the relationship.
“The University of Nigeria is a brand. The UNN Business School is a brand, so any institution we are collaborating with, we need to ensure that institution has what it takes to collaborate with us,” he said.
He said both institutions needed to establish the benefits and responsibilities of each partner from the outset to ensure a smooth and productive collaboration.
He also disclosed that UNNBS had introduced measures to protect students and property on its premises and was working to take examinations closer to students in locations with large concentrations.
Welcoming the Director, Nwaigwe said ISDIS was pleased to receive him and viewed the visit as a sign of commitment to the partnership.
He commended the immediate past UNNBS director, Prof. Josaphat Onwumere, for laying the foundation for the collaboration, expressing confidence that Onuoha-Ugwuoke would build on the progress.
Ogbeide said ISDIS was ready to expand its digital learning collaboration with UNNBS, noting that technology was changing the delivery of professional education.
“ISDIS is ready to work closely with UNN Business School to expand access to world-class online learning. We are open to deepening this partnership to reach more learners, wherever they are,” he said.
ISDIS is a specialised institution focused on professional education in deposit insurance, financial safety-net systems and risk management. Founded by financial services industry experts, it partners with universities and industry stakeholders to develop professional certifications and curricula addressing skills gaps in the financial services sector and business education.
