American Open University (A-Global), Nigeria, has inaugurated its Global Campus in Ibadan, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional higher education through partnerships with multinational technology companies.
The institution held its official launch yesterday with stakeholders from academia, industry, and regulatory agencies in attendance. The event, titled "Future Forward," featured discussions on reimagining tertiary education to meet contemporary workforce demands.
Dr David Seyi Akanbi, the university's President and Founder, spoke about the institution's establishment during his inaugural speech. "Visions don't die," Dr Akanbi stated. "Even when the visioners pass on, the dream continues. Fortunately, today, the dream has come true, and the team that championed it is here to celebrate it."
Citing Buckminster Fuller, Dr Akanbi explained the philosophy underpinning the university's approach. "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."
The founder challenged conventional educational expectations, stating: "The old promise, 'go to school, get good grades, get a job,' is broken. We are here to fix that. We have built an institution where the walls of the classroom are as wide as the world itself. Through our hybrid model and partnerships with global giants like Microsoft, Google, and Cisco, we are telling the Nigerian student: You are no longer limited."
Prof. Francis O. Egbokhare from the University of Ibadan delivered the keynote lecture, examining structural issues within Nigeria's tertiary education system.
The university's hybrid learning model and industry collaborations represent its strategy for addressing what its founders describe as the disconnect between academic credentials and employer requirements in Nigeria's labour market.
