Miva University is setting its sights on a bold future, with plans to hit a student population of 20,000 by December 2025. After starting out with just 500 students, the private online university is rapidly growing and aims to hit the 10,000 mark by May this year.
But the vision goes far beyond numbers.
At his 50th birthday celebration and colloquium in Abuja, Sim Shagaya, CEO of Miva University, shared his commitment to delivering high-quality education at scale. He emphasized the university’s mission to provide top-tier learning experiences, powered by technology, without compromising on quality.
Miva is closely watching how online and technical education is evolving globally and is bringing those insights to Nigeria. The goal? To become Africa’s first one-million-student university—and possibly the first in the world—while ensuring the integrity of learning remains intact.
Reflecting on his journey so far, Shagaya noted how his experiences shaped his passion for education, not just through Miva University, but also through his earlier venture, uLesson.
He didn’t shy away from the challenges. Growing fast comes with the responsibility of maintaining standards, and he made it clear that Miva is not just about growth—it’s about impact. “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 also reassured investors and stakeholders of Miva’s commitment to responsible financial management and affordable access, saying the university will continue to keep tuition low while delivering world-class education.
Backing him up, Miva’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tayo Arulogun, highlighted how the university is tackling Nigeria’s skill gap by offering AI-driven, accessible, and practical education. Miva’s blended learning approach—combining online lectures with hands-on training—is designed to produce real-world results.
Courses like Information Literacy, AI and Critical Thinking, and AI and Creative Thinking are compulsory for all students, as part of Miva’s commitment to building problem-solvers and entrepreneurs ready for the future.
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