Sim Shagaya, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s foremost private Open University, Miva University, recently clocked 50 and was hosted to a colourful colloquium in Abuja on Wednesday.
At his 50th birthday celebration, the visionary entrepreneur and educationist whose fingerprints are etched across Nigeria’s digital and educational landscapes, used the occasion to lay out his vision for Miva University.
He stressed his determination to offer the world top-notch university education, targeting the overall population of the university to rise to 10,000 by May 2025.
According to him, Miva University is on a bold mission to transform higher education in Nigeria and beyond, aiming for massive enrollment while maintaining quality through technology-driven solutions.
“And society is beginning to reward us. As you mentioned, we started out with 500 students in the first semester. By this time last year, I believe we’re sitting at, maybe 2,000, 3,000. So 500 to 2,000 to 8,000, and we’ll likely cross 10,000 at the end of May. And our plans are to hit 18,000, 20,000 by the end of this year, and 45,000 next year.
“And God willing, cross 100,000 sometime in 2027. And who knows where we go from there. One of our investors, the U.S. investor, that lady Emily, her partner told me, you know, you have the opportunity to build the first one million person university on the continent, if not in the world.
“One million people in a university. That is just going to come with incredible responsibility, because the risk is that you build a one million person university and quality falls, and efficacy falls, and you’re just printing diplomas and handing out to people. And that’s one thing that keeps me up at night today,” he said.
Shagaya has crossed many thresholds of success in the business world; and his trajectory has been nothing short of inspirational.
From starting an online business in Nigeria with Konga, e-learning with Ulesson, to his latest adventure to reshape university education through the two-year-old Miva University, which has already recorded unimaginable success and high subscription.
Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged that past experiences shaped his current vision for education through Miva University and ULesson.
Shagaya acknowledged the challenge of maintaining quality in a rapidly expanding online university and emphasized that Miva is not just a commercial venture but a mission-driven institution aiming for societal impact.
He reassured investors of responsible financial management and making affordable access was provided to subscribers, adding that the university is committed to keeping tuition fees affordable while ensuring high-quality education.
He said Miva faces a challenge in teaching hands-on courses like engineering and medicine through distance learning, but expressed his belief in emerging technologies like virtual reality will soon make it possible to teach practical subjects remotely.
According to him, the university is watching global advancements in online technical education to implement them in Nigeria, adding that Miva aspires to be Africa’s first one-million-student university without compromising quality.
The businessman whose clear-sightedness and drive have earned him a towering reputation among his associates was widely celebrated by dignitaries, including former Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, former Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Mr. Chris Maiyaki, Captains of industries, policy-makers, family members and friends at the colloquium.
Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Sulaiman, described Sim as someone who embraced creativity, logical thinking, and hard work and commended his pioneering contributions to education through Miva University, saying it is one of the most transformative projects in Nigeria.
Suleiman also commended Sim’s courage in choosing education despite skepticism about its profitability, likening his work to historical figures such as Nana Asma’u, who revolutionized women’s education in Africa, while affirming Sim’s legacy and predicting even greater achievements in the future.
While noting Nigeria’s higher education crisis, he said despite the rise of private universities, over 90 per cent of students still attend public institutions, which struggle with infrastructure, faculty shortages, and underfunding.
According to him, with only 2.5 million students in a country of 230 million, the gap in access to tertiary education remains severe.
Suleiman disclosed Sterling Bank’s strategic priorities on healthcare, education, agriculture, renewable energy, and transport, stressing that education is the foundation and equipping people with work-ready education enables them to improve their families’ well-being.
He praised Miva University’s innovative model, which uses technology to expand access to quality education while maintaining affordability, stating that technology enhances faculty access, enabling experts worldwide to teach remotely.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of Miva University, Prof. Tayo Arulogun, noted the skills gap in Nigerian school system as a major challenge in the country and explained how Miva University is addressing it through technology-driven, AI-inclusive, and accessible education.
Arulogun stated that the university adopts blended learning approach as it combines online and hands-on training to enhance learning outcomes.
He disclosed that some of the courses offered in the institution are AI and Critical Thinking Courses, adding that every student must pass courses like Information Literacy and AI and Creative Thinking for graduates to develop problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills.
Speaking on the focus of the institution on entrepreneurship, he said the university believes more entrepreneurs will drive national growth.
He stated that the university is bridging academia and industry gaps through global and industrial partnerships, collaborating with industries to ensure students graduate with skills that align with market needs.
Arulogun said one of the approach adopted by the university was project-based learning, which encourages students to apply knowledge to real-world challenges, replacing rote memorization with practical skills.
He said the school has mandatory internships which every student must undergo to gain industry experience before graduation, while emphasizing that Miva University is continuously evolving to solve Nigeria’s educational challenges while ensuring students are equipped for the future workforce.
In a tribute to her younger brother, Chalya Shagaya, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Entrepreneurship, emphasized the significance of leadership, innovation, education, and enterprise in building a great society.
Chalya celebrated her brother as an entrepreneur and tech investor, humorously recalling their childhood days when he was just her “dingy brother” who sought comfort in her classroom.
She noted that even as a child, Sim was different; while most kids wanted toys, he asked for a chemistry set and showed an early passion for books, problem-solving, and innovation, adding that his entrepreneurial spirit started young; he always tossed ideas around, and before long, another business was born.
She emphasized that the Nigerian government under Tinubu recognizes and values entrepreneurs like Sim and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to entrepreneur-friendly policies, innovation, and inclusive growth.
