After making a name for itself as a leading provider of online K-12 education across Africa, the innovative Nigerian edtech behemoth uLesson has announced its entry into higher education with the launch of Miva Open University.
After four years of tremendous success in the K-12 arena, during which time an ecosystem of online learning was established, one that resonated with millions of people across the continent, this strategic shift was made.
uLesson’s founder, Sim Shagaya, took to Twitter to share the news that a licence has been issued to the company’s subsidiary, Miva Open University. This is a big deal for the company because they want to expand into higher levels of schooling after K-12. The Federal Executive Council granted Miva a licence after the National Universities Commission (NUC) recommended it, allowing the company to put its extensive knowledge of the K-12 market to use in the higher education sector.
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Since uLesson’s beginning in 2019, Shagaya has been its visionary. He recently shared his excitement and thanks with the NUC for their thorough procedure and openness to working together. He promised that Miva Open University would revolutionise distance learning in terms of accessibility, cost, effectiveness, convenience, and originality. Computer Science, Software Engineering, Accounting, Economics, Business Management, Public Policy & Administration, Data Science, and Cybersecurity degrees will be our first offerings, followed by a quick expansion into other degree categories, such as nursing and law.
Miva Open University will provide fully accredited degrees, in contrast to the K-12 model, which supplements standard school lessons with regionally relevant curriculum. This action further demonstrates uLesson’s dedication to its comprehensive education approach, which aims to meet the urgent demand for high-quality, low-cost higher education.
The news is being released at a time when Nigeria’s higher education system is struggling with issues like inadequate funding, a high student-to-teacher ratio, and inadequate facilities. Students, especially those interested in pursuing careers in the technological sectors, have been compelled by this fact to seek education elsewhere, primarily through online platforms.
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The uLesson app has been downloaded over two million times, and the company has received praise from educators, parents, and kids. Shagaya hopes to use his recent successes as a springboard to transform higher education in his home region completely.
Miva Open University’s mission is to close the skills gap in Africa by providing young people with the education and credentials they need to meet the growing demand in fields like data science, software engineering, and cybersecurity. In his own words, Shagaya elaborated, “Our mission is to provide accessible, high-quality education that helps our students succeed in the digital marketplace.”
Other Nigerian edtech ventures, such as AltSchool Africa, which provides certificates in computing courses after a year of study, may present competition for uLesson as they set out on their grand adventure. Miva’s licenced degree programmes are a potential USP that might help it stand out in Africa’s growing edtech sector.
uLesson’s entry into higher education is a significant movement as the digital landscape continues to revolutionise teaching and learning across Africa. How this growth develops and what impact it has on Africa’s broader digital education environment will be fascinating to observe.