Miva Open University, a division of the uLesson Group, has obtained an Open Distance eLearning License from Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council. This exciting development was announced by Sim Shagaya, the CEO and Founder of the uLesson Group, on his social media platforms.
The launch of Miva Open University comes four years after the establishment of uLesson, and Shagaya revealed that this expansion has always been part of their plan. The university aims to provide undergraduate programs in a variety of fields such as Computer Science, Cyber Security, Data Science, Software Engineering, Public Policy and Administration, Economics, Accounting, and Business Management, as stated on their official website.
In addition to the existing course offerings, Shagaya also shared that Miva Open University has plans to expand its curriculum to include nursing and law programs. This expansion will put them in competition with established institutions like the National Open University (NOUN), AltSchool and Nexford University.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of candidates registering for the examination administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), reaching 1.8 million in 2022. However, based on previous outcomes, a considerable portion of these candidates will not secure admission into conventional universities in the country.
Even for those who do gain admission, the quality of teaching and facilities in many Nigerian universities is a concern, and graduates often find themselves ill-prepared for the demands of the workplace.
Recognizing the gap between academia and the business world, several entrepreneurs have launched ventures to address this issue. AltSchool, for instance, offers a one-year diploma program that promises to fast-track graduates into tech jobs, with courses in product marketing, product design, data engineering, and cloud engineering.
However, while these innovative alternatives operate primarily online, they still face challenges in gaining acceptance among Africans who are not yet accustomed to the idea of online universities. Nonetheless, by leveraging the flexibility of online education, institutions like Miva Open University can accommodate a larger number of students as they are not limited by physical space constraints.
With the introduction of Miva Open University and its diverse course offerings, there is hope that more students will have access to quality education and be better equipped for future career opportunities.
