American Open University (A-Global), Nigeria, has pledged to redefine higher education and bridge the gap between academic qualifications and workplace demands.
This was said at the official launching of its Global Campus in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The launch, which attracted academics, industry leaders, regulatory agencies and community stakeholders, was themed “Future Forward” and marked what organisers described as the beginning of a disruptive, technology-driven educational model for Nigeria and Africa.
Speaking at the event, President and Founder of the university, Dr. David Seyi Akanbi, said the institution was created to challenge the traditional promise of education that no longer guarantees employability.
“Visions don’t die,” Akanbi said in his inaugural address. “Even when the visioners pass on, the dream continues. Today, the dream has become reality.”
According to him, American Open University was designed to replace outdated learning models with a hybrid system that combines digital learning, industry partnerships and global exposure.
“The old promise of ‘go to school, get good grades, get a job’ is broken,” he said, adding: “We are here to fix that by building a new model that makes the old one obsolete.”
He added that partnerships with global technology firms such as Microsoft, Google and Cisco would enable students to compete internationally without leaving Nigeria.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. Francis O. Egbokhare of the University of Ibadan, who spoke on “The Autarchic–Asymmetric Model for Nigerian Higher Education.”
Egbokhare argued that Nigeria’s education challenges stemmed not from lack of resources but from poor utilisation and weak institutional imagination.
“Infrastructure exists but is underused. Talent exists but is excluded,” he said, proposing a self-reliant and technology-driven model that repurposes community spaces as learning hubs.
“Higher education must be redesigned for the country we have, not the one we are copying,” he added.
The event also featured goodwill messages from key stakeholders, including the Zonal Director of JAMB, Ibadan, Mrs. Temitope Akintola, who commended the university’s focus on access and quality, and Mr. Toyin Olatayo, Academic Director of UniTES CISCO Academy, who highlighted the importance of embedding industry certifications into academic programmes.
Professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) expressed support for the university’s emphasis on workforce readiness.
Also present were representatives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, the Oyo State Police Command, and leaders of the host community, who welcomed the institution and pledged their support.
The launch ended with a tour of the Global Campus and a demonstration of the university’s hybrid learning platforms.
American Open University announced that it has commenced admissions into NUC-approved undergraduate programmes in technology, business and public administration, with curricula integrated with artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital strategy.
