Miva Open University has matriculated 12,260 new students for the 2026 academic session, as its Pro-Chancellor, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, called for greater adoption of online learning to expand access to higher education in Nigeria.
Olowolafe made the call during the university’s 2026 matriculation ceremony held at the Transcorp Centre, Maitama, Abuja, where he urged the newly admitted students to embrace lifelong learning, remain disciplined and commit themselves to completing their programmes.
He said the traditional university system had forced many Nigerians to choose between pursuing higher education and fulfilling their professional and family responsibilities, thereby limiting opportunities for many capable individuals.
“For generations, higher education in Nigeria demanded a heavy sacrifice: you had to put your life on hold,” he said.
According to him, Miva’s flexible learning model enables students to combine their academic pursuits with work, business and other personal responsibilities.
Olowolafe noted that the approach reflected the changing demands of the modern workplace, where continuous learning has become essential for professional development and career advancement.
“The old pattern of studying for a few years and relying on that single degree for the rest of your career is over. The world moves too fast and continuous learning is now a lifelong requirement,” he said.
He encouraged the matriculants to draw on their professional and personal experiences during their studies, explaining that practical knowledge gained from workplaces, businesses and communities could enrich academic discussions and help them address real-world challenges.
The Pro-Chancellor also advised students to prepare for internet connectivity challenges, joking that their first major examination might come from their internet service providers rather than their professors.
Miva Targets One Million African Learners
Meanwhile, the university’s Chancellor, Sim Shagaya, disclosed that Miva had enrolled more than 40,000 students since commencing operations in 2023, describing the growth as evidence of technology’s potential to transform access to higher education.
Shagaya said the institution was working towards establishing study centres in every local government area in Nigeria, alongside plans to develop advanced robotics and drone laboratories and a world-class research institution.
He added that the university aimed to reach one million African learners over the next decade without compromising academic standards.
“Our ambition is to impact one million Africans over the next decade, and it is not just a slogan; it is a commitment,” he said.
The Chancellor explained that Miva was established to address barriers preventing capable Nigerians and other Africans from accessing quality higher education.
He urged students to cultivate discipline, consistency, curiosity and hard work, stressing that academic success required sustained effort rather than talent alone.
Vice-Chancellor Reaffirms Commitment to Flexible Education
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Professor Tayo Arulogun, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to expanding access to quality higher education through flexible, technology-driven learning.
He said the university was focused on equipping students with the knowledge, practical skills and competencies needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy.
Arulogun noted that the institution’s growing enrolment reflected increasing demand for alternative pathways to university education, particularly among Nigerians seeking to balance their studies with employment, business and family responsibilities.
He urged the newly admitted students to remain focused, take their academic responsibilities seriously and make effective use of the learning resources available to them.
WHO Official Warns Students Against Misusing AI
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, urged students to use education to challenge injustice, demand accountability and create opportunities for others rather than pursue academic qualifications solely for personal advancement.
Ihekweazu also warned students against abusing artificial intelligence to obtain academic qualifications without acquiring the knowledge and skills their education was intended to provide.
He encouraged them to distinguish between using AI to improve understanding and relying on the technology to bypass the learning process.
“If you use AI to deceive your assessors to pass rather than to learn, you may actually get the grades. You may even get the degree, but you will have denied yourself something far more valuable: the education that you actually came to seek,” he said.
