Pan-Atlantic University: Advancing ethical leadership and global academic excellence

This article is part of The Guardian’s Special Focus on 10 Nigerian Universities with Global Excellence shaping the educational sector of the country

At a time when universities are expected to produce graduates who can compete globally while contributing meaningfully to society, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) has built its identity around a broader understanding of education. Under Vice-Chancellor, Professor Enase Okonedo, the university combines academic competence, professional excellence, ethical leadership and service to society.

Professor Okonedo, a Professor of Management with over 30 years of experience in corporate governance, finance and higher education, is a former Dean of Lagos Business School. She also serves on the boards of leading commercial banks, energy firms and international academic institutions, including the advisory board of the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

According to her, PAU’s distinction begins with its understanding of what university education should achieve. The institution seeks not only to award degrees but to develop competent and committed professionals equipped with knowledge, skills, character and a strong sense of responsibility.

This commitment shapes the student experience. Every undergraduate has access to personal mentoring, while the humanities curriculum exposes students across disciplines to ethics, society and the consequences of professional decisions. The university also maintains close links with industry, ensuring that students encounter real-world problems while faculty engage with business and professional practice. Entrepreneurship is another important part of the PAU experience.

Sustainability has equally become an institutional priority, with the university working on energy and waste management, water stewardship and student-led environmental initiatives. At the same time, PAU benchmarks itself against international standards while remaining firmly rooted in Africa.

Its recent QS ranking among leading universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Lagos Business School’s international accreditations, PAU’s CFA Institute University Affiliation and international partnerships reflect this orientation. For Professor Okonedo, however, global standards are a means of equipping graduates to contribute meaningfully wherever they find themselves.

She attributes the university’s progress to foundations laid over decades rather than the tenure of any single leader. The journey dates back to Lagos Business School’s establishment in 1991 and the subsequent growth of Pan-Atlantic University. In recent years, PAU has built on this foundation by strengthening academic quality, research, innovation, international partnerships, student experience and engagement with industry and society.

The university’s approach to international best practices is deliberate. It benchmarks its curriculum, teaching, assessment, faculty development, research, governance, student support and administration against leading institutions while adapting practices to its own context. Lagos Business School’s AACSB and AMBA accreditations provide international benchmarks for quality improvement, while the CFA Institute affiliation connects finance education with recognised professional and ethical standards.

Several programmes and facilities further distinguish PAU. Lagos Business School has built an international reputation in management and executive education, while the Enterprise Development Centre has contributed to entrepreneurship and SME development. The university also offers programmes in media and communication, management, social sciences, science and technology, supported by the Institute of Humanities, which ensures that students receive an education beyond their professional disciplines.

The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art is another distinctive feature. As a pioneering university art museum, it houses a significant collection of Nigerian and African art and provides students and the wider public with opportunities to engage with art, culture and history.

PAU is also the first Nigerian university to partner with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, through which 650 young people are expected to receive education and support over ten years, particularly those facing barriers to higher education. Other initiatives, including the MTN Media Innovation Programme and expanding activities in technology, entrepreneurship and innovation, further broaden the university’s impact.

For Professor Okonedo, PAU’s distinctiveness lies in the combination of these elements. Professional education, humanities, entrepreneurship, industry engagement, culture, ethics and personal formation come together in the university’s goal of educating the whole person.

Research, innovation and collaboration are also being strengthened. PAU is expanding research infrastructure and faculty support, promoting interdisciplinary research and developing an Innovation Hub to connect students, researchers, entrepreneurs and industry. Internships, executive education, mentorship, guest teaching and research partnerships further ensure that classroom learning remains connected to professional and societal realities.

As PAU approaches its 25th anniversary as a university in 2027, its history extending back to Lagos Business School in 1991 offers an opportunity to reflect on its growth and future. Its ambition is to become Africa’s premier university for ethical leadership.

For Professor Okonedo, this means producing graduates who, regardless of their professions, are recognised for competence, integrity, sound judgement and commitment to the common good. To sustain this direction, PAU plans continued investment in teaching and learning, faculty development, research, innovation, technology, infrastructure, the student experience and international partnerships.

Growth, however, will not come at the expense of the qualities that define the institution. PAU intends to preserve personal attention to students, its sense of community, emphasis on humanities and ethics, and close relationship with professional practice.

Professor Okonedo therefore urges staff and students to reflect the university’s values in their everyday actions, allowing integrity to guide decisions, excellence to shape responsibilities and respect to define relationships, while recognising that every member of the university community contributes to its culture and reputation.