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On 29th April 2025, Miva Open University marked a major milestone with the official launch and ribbon-cutting ceremony of its flagship Lagos Study Centre, located at 376 Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Lagos.
The event welcomed stakeholders, education partners, the media, students, and members of the public as the university unveiled its vibrant new study centre and shared its bold vision for the future of education.
The event was a vibrant celebration, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Miva students, The uLesson Group, and the wider community. Designed to be more than just a study space, the Lagos Study Centre promises to offer innovation, collaboration, and excellence in learning.
In This Post
The Launch Event
The ceremony began with a warm welcome address from Prof. Tayo Arulogun, the Vice-Chancellor of Miva Open University. In his remarks, he said, “This space at Yaba is symbolic. We want to provide inclusive, accessible, affordable, and technology-enabled learning. We believe that quality education should be available to everyone, irrespective of geography or background, and that’s what we’re doing. That’s the mission of Mva Open University.”
Following the welcome, Sim Shagaya, the Group Chief Executive Officer of The uLesson Group and Chancellor of Miva Open University, shared the vision behind the Study Centre. He stated, “Why build study centres when you’re essentially running a media and tech operation? We received an open university licence to deliver courses online, on phones and laptops. It should be straightforward.
“There should be no reason to invest in a centre like this. Students should be able to stay home, be in their cars, offices, or businesses, learning online. But there are things that transcend technology.
“What are those things? Collaboration. Community—not just in the context of our students or their interactions with the faculty, but even our place as a university in the larger society. Then, there is innovation—a place where people can collaborate and create new things and help us innovate within the business.
“Today, we’re laying the groundwork for what university experiences will look like ten years from now. It’s very clear that there are a number of technologies that are evolving very quickly that will fundamentally affect and alter education. In the process, they would create the ability for operations like Miva and uLesson to deliver incredibly powerful educational experiences for a very low cost.
The RIbbon-Cutting Ceremony
The highlight of the evening was the ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by representatives of TLcom Capital—investors in The uLesson Group for over six years and the very first among many others—Maurizio Caio, the Managing Partner at TLcom Capital, and Ido Sum, Partner at TLcom Capital.
They officially declared the Lagos Study Centre open, cutting the ribbon to enthusiastic applause. In his remarks, Mr Caio said, “It’s very emotional, I would say. We try to invest in technology that does something about the world. We are in the business of finding a lot of things that use technology to change the world. That’s our business. So we’re grateful because you are part of it.”
A Tour of the Facilities
After the ribbon-cutting, Oladipo Olugbemi, Chief People Officer of The uLesson Group, guided guests on a tour of the new facility, highlighting the thoughtfully designed spaces.
At the heart of the centre is a welcoming reception area and an admissions office, where prospective students can make enquiries and receive the support they need. Nearby is the Miva Shop where students and guests can walk in to purchase branded merchandise that reflects the Miva community spirit.
Students will be able to take exams in fully equipped CBT centres with over 190 computers, ensuring a secure and efficient testing environment. They can enjoy meals in the cafeteria or unwind on the rooftop—ideal for breaks, informal gatherings, events, or simply enjoying the view.
To support academic success, students will have access to both an e-library and a physical library, offering a broad collection of digital and print learning resources. The lecture rooms are flexible spaces for lectures, masterclasses, and group discussions. For postgraduate students, the MBA Lounge provides a calm, inviting space to study and connect with peers.
Furthermore, individuals seeking a dedicated space to work can access a co-working space that is readily available. Lastly, the event hall serves as a multi-purpose venue for university functions, student hangouts, networking sessions, seminars, and special gatherings.
Without doubt, every part of the centre was designed with students’ success, collaboration, and well-being in mind.
Miva Study Centres Roll-Out Plan
Oladipo Olugbemi, Chief People Officer at The uLesson Group, outlined Miva’s nationwide roll-out plan for its study centres, describing it as a key part of a five-year strategic roadmap aimed at driving student enrolment and revenue growth.
He said, “We’ve designed a blueprint to guide the roll-out of similar centres in major Nigerian cities. We’ve selected a few priority states for the next phase. They’re based on enrolment data in states where Miva has the highest student numbers in Nigeria today.”
The plan begins in April 2025 and prioritises all six geopolitical zones. Plateau State, significant as Miva’s origin, will follow in July 2025, with Rivers State launching in September 2025. Other states in the pipeline include Kaduna, Delta, Imo, and a second Lagos centre expected in Q1 2027.
Unveiling MIND
Another major moment of the day was the unveiling of MIND (Miva Interactive Neural Dialogue), the university’s innovative learning tool. The Chief Content Officer, AyoOluwa Nihinlola, who led the unveiling, explained, “Learners who receive immediate conversational feedback improve performance by up to 30% more than those who receive passive feedback. Also, students retain 70% of what they say and write in active conversation compared to 10% of what they read.
“We are moving beyond just reading. We are moving to more engaging, conversational experiences. MIND is a conversational experience for students. It is an AI-powered learning partner built to support Miva’s students.
“This is our first step to personalise learning and feedback. We’re building more online resources. In the next few weeks and months, we’ll see a lot more students. We believe students are really intelligent, and this helps them apply high-class thinking in the real world. That’s what we want this to do.”
MIND demonstrates Miva’s ongoing investment in technology to improve the learning experience for every student.
Closing Remarks
To wrap up the event, Iheanyi Akwitti, Registrar of Miva Open University and Chief Academic Officer of The uLesson Group, gave a heartfelt thank-you to everyone in attendance. He appreciated the support and engagement shown by the guests, noting that their presence added great value to the occasion. His closing remarks brought the event to a thoughtful and positive end.
Visit Miva Open University, Lagos
Whether preparing for exams, working on group projects, or simply needing a peaceful place to study, students now have a dedicated space to thrive. Miva Open University continues to lead the way in accessible, innovative, and world-class education in Nigeria, and the Lagos Study Centre is just the beginning.
The Lagos Study Centre is now open to all current and prospective students. Located at 376 Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Lagos, the centre welcomes everyone who wishes to learn more about Miva’s offerings or explore the beautiful facility.
