New City Varsity Excites Students with Entrepreneurship-Oriented Academic Experience

Oluchi Chibuzor

New City University, Ogun State, has pledged its readiness to expand access to higher education, blend industry with academics, and produce disciplined and entrepreneurial graduates.

The institution is also set to establish radio and TV stations as a strategic move to build one of the best media faculties in the country.

Speaking recently at the Chancellor’s reception/Christmas party held at the institution’s premises, the founder and Chancellor, Prof. Akin Akingbesote, said that the institution aims to bridge the gap between industry and academia.

He explained that the decision to establish the university was driven by the growing gap between the number of students seeking admission and the limited capacity of existing universities in the country.

“It is a long-term vision. I decided to support the education system in Nigeria, not just as a businessman, but after discovering that we do not have enough universities to absorb the number of students seeking admission. The journey to setting up the institution began over 10 years ago and required consistency, determination and significant financial commitment.

“It is very capital-intensive, very challenging, but with determination, we have made it. I started this process about 10 years ago, and today we are seeing the result,” he noted.

In line with its vision to merge industry and academia, the founder noted that the university is introducing an entrepreneurship-driven learning model that enables students to gain hands-on experience through on-campus business ventures.

“We want an entrepreneurial approach to education. Students will be involved in real businesses alongside their studies so that by the time they graduate, they are job-ready and business-minded,” he explained.

Despite being a new institution, the university has recorded encouraging enrolment figures, with between three and four hundred pioneer students already admitted, while more are expected to resume in January.

On academic offerings, he disclosed that the university has invested heavily in facilities and faculty, with special emphasis on mass communication.

He announced that plans are underway to establish both radio and television stations as part of practical training, with applications for broadcasting licences already in progress.

“We brought in top professionals in Mass Communication because we want to build one of the best faculties of media sciences in Nigeria. The university also plans to introduce robust scholarship incentives.

“Looking ahead, the university is already planning expansion, including additional accommodation and full operation of its radio and television stations once licensing is completed, expected by next year.

“Outstanding students who graduate with first-class degrees will have their tuition refunded and be offered scholarships for further studies anywhere in the world. Accounting students who qualify professionally before graduation will also benefit from tuition refunds and additional scholarships,” stated Akingbesote.

The Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, noted that the institution’s plan to establish its own campus radio and TV stations is part of efforts to strengthen practical training in media studies.

“We are going to replicate what I did in UNILAG Mass Communication in this place. We are going to service our community here in Ayetoro, Lagos, Sagamu, Abeokuta and Ijebu Ode. Our focus is to do many things that other radio stations are not doing and make sure our students have practical sessions in radio and television broadcasting,” he stated.