The founder of edtech startup uLesson, Sim Shagaya, has announced that the National Universities Commission has granted them an online university licence.
Before expanding into other fields, the online university, now known as Miva Open University, will begin by offering degrees in computing and management courses — Computer Science, Software Engineering, Accounting, Economics, Business Management, Public Policy & Administration, Data Science, and Cybersecurity.
According to Shagaya’s tweet, their entry into the university education sector comes at an opportune time, as the need for effective, affordable tertiary education is as great as it has ever been.
“Our mission is to provide accessible, high-quality education that helps our students succeed in the digital marketplace,” Shagaya said.
He also emphasises their dedication to pushing the boundaries of accessibility, affordability, efficacy, convenience, and innovation.
Shagaya has long been vocal about his desire to provide holistic education, but unlike the K-12 model, which simply provides regionally relevant information to augment traditional school teachings, uLesson now offers fully-licensed degrees in partnership with Miva.
According to Shagaya, who has led uLesson since 2019, his ambition for the company is to make it the greatest platform aggregating the best media, education, and technological resources to revolutionise education outcomes in Africa.
“Years from now, I want to hear uLesson users talk about how we fundamentally shifted their attitudes to learning and inspired them to follow pursuits that they would have otherwise not done because we opened their eyes to new possibilities,” he added.
With over two million app downloads, uLesson—the country’s largest and most capitalised edtech startup—has earned the trust and support of parents and instructors.