By Felix Khanoba
Miva Open University has matriculated more than 8,000 new students in what the institution says is its largest matriculation exercise since it began operations in 2023.
The University’s Chancellor, Mr. Sim Shagaya, announced the milestone during the 2025 Matriculation Ceremony held on Saturday in Abuja.
Describing the event as symbolic of the institution’s rapid growth, Shagaya noted that few African universities operate at such scale while retaining strong academic standards.
He also detailed plans to expand the University’s learning footprint with 770 study centres across the country, one for each local government area—designed to give students flexible spaces for learning, collaboration, and community-building.
“Today we gather to welcome our newest cohort, over 8,000 students being welcomed into a community that now exceeds 18,000 students. I do not believe there are many tertiary institutions on the continent that are actually larger. Yet we have been obsessive about maintaining quality even as we provide access,” he said.
Shagaya drew attention to the wider challenges in Nigeria’s higher education system, highlighting the disparity between university capacity and the number of qualified applicants.
He recalled that although more than 2 million candidates took the JAMB examination last year, only 600,000 secured admission into the country’s over 170 universities, leaving around a million qualified students without placement.
According to him, while traditional institutions remain important, they are unable to scale quickly enough to meet national demand, making flexible and innovative models essential for equipping learners with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
“There are tools on the horizon that will continue to challenge us on their implications for humanity and Nigeria tools like artificial intelligence, which I personally believe represent incredible opportunity.
“We are harnessing these tools and have rolled out MIND, our AI-powered learning companion. It engages you in real-time conversations about case studies, provides instant feedback, and helps you to think critically,” he said.
The Chancellor urged the new students to pursue curiosity and collaboration, take advantage of the study centres, masterclasses, AI tools, and build strong relationships with their lecturers.
“Last year, over 2 million Nigerians sat for the Jamba Conference. About 1.5 million of them qualified, yet our 170 universities could only absorb 600,000. This means that 900,000 qualified, brilliant young Nigerians were turned away, not because they were not good enough, but because there simply was not enough space.”
In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Tayo Arulogun highlighted the university’s rapid expansion since its digital launch in September 2023. He said the institution has grown from its ambitious beginnings to offering 14 accredited undergraduate programmes and four postgraduate programmes—evidence of both growth and academic consistency.
“Today, we multiply our largest single intake since inception, a milestone that reflects the great confidence in our mission. Since opening our digital doors, enrolment has grown exponentially, with thousands of learners joining our community.
“We began with a golden ambition two years ago and have since grown to 14 accredited undergraduate programmes,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola urged the incoming students to appreciate the long-term commitment they have undertaken.
Fashola praised the Chancellor’s vision and advised the matriculating students to adopt a similar sense of direction. “Just imagine if the 8,000 who are matriculating today also followed their vision and connected another 8,000 persons each,” he said.
He commended the institution’s innovative approach, especially the engagement of professors of practice, who he said help bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.
He encouraged the new students to embrace discipline, lifelong learning, and strong values. “Knowledge alone will not be enough. Your character will be the most important factor.”
Fashola further urged them to remain focused despite distractions and to uphold the values expected of true graduates. “Do not let yourself down. I wish you outstanding success in your chosen course of study.”
