In a landmark event signaling a new era for higher education in Africa, Miva Open University (MOU) celebrated its maiden convocation today at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts (formerly the National Arts Theatre) in Lagos. The ceremony was highlighted by the formal investiture of *Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, a distinguished medical doctor and business leader, as the university’s first Pro-Chancellor.
The investiture of Dr. Olowolafe marked a pivotal moment for the institution. A citation read during the event described him as a leader whose influence spans healthcare, infrastructure, and investment, noting his leadership in infrastructure finance across Africa. It was revealed that Dr. Olowolafe has made a *N1 billion commitment over five years to support the university’s mission.
In his inaugural address as Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Olowolafe championed the model of open and distance learning, stating, “Where the students cannot travel to the classroom, the classroom must learn to travel to the students”. He emphasized that democratizing education does not mean lowering standards but rather “refusing to allow conditions of learning to become a barrier to the quality of learning”. He pledged that his role on the governing council would be to ensure the university refuses to compromise on quality even as it scales to meet the needs of Nigeria’s rapidly growing population.
The Chancellor and Founder of Miva Open University, *Sim Shagaya, delivered an emotional tribute to the “Class of 2026,” noting that many graduates are working adults, mothers, and entrepreneurs who studied late at night. He shared the story of a graduate who waited 10 years while raising children to finally complete her degree, using her as “living proof” that the barrier to education was never ability, but access.
Shagaya positioned Miva as an “argument” against national pessimism, asserting that world-class institutions can be built by Nigerians for Nigerians. He announced that the university is expanding into *’physical learning centers’ in Abuja and Lagos and has launched ‘cutting-edge robotics and drone laboratories’ to shift Nigerians from being consumers of technology to active engineers. Furthermore, he highlighted Miva’s new bachelor’s degree in ‘Artificial Intelligence’, the first of its kind in the region, designed to ensure Africans are ‘authors of the AI age, not audience’.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, attended the event, representing the Federal Ministry of Education . He praised Miva as the “evolution” of education, representing the democratization of knowledge without compromising quality. The Minister detailed the federal government’s ambitious reforms under the ‘Nigeria Educational Sector Initiative’, including a *N200 billion investment’ in medical education and training over the last two years. He also highlighted the success of the new student loan model and efforts to digitize the sector through the ‘Nigeria Educational Data Initiative’ .
Representing
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), *Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, welcomed the university’s presence in Lagos, describing the state as a hub for innovation and human capital development. She commended the university’s founders for their ‘foresight and courage’ in investing in a future-facing digital model that resonates with the state’s own initiatives, such as the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy.
The convocation, which also featured a convocation lecture by the *Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammed Sanusi, drew a diverse crowd of proud families of graduands. The event featured a demonstration of Miva’s innovative approach to learning.
As the pioneers of this new academic era, the graduates were charged by Dr. Olowolafe and Mr. Shagaya to ‘stay and build’ in Nigeria. The ceremony concluded with a sense of national pride, as the Chancellor noted, ‘Today, because of you, there’s just a little more reason to believe in Nigeria’.
