Targeting educational revolution, Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State, a world-class institution modelled after Oxford-Harvard starts admitting students in September 2024, with the progressive enrolment of 10,000 students in five years, writes Louis Achi
After birthing the Homo sapiens and cradling human civilisation, Africa apparently went into a long sleep. But it’s time to wake up. A new ferment is on. And the guiding spirits are up. The most powerful tool to catalyse the transformation is education, as pungently counselled by Nelson Mandela.
Dr. Herbert Wigwe, GMD/CEO Access Holdings Plc, and chief visioner succinctly captures Africa’s new course: “Wigwe University is the culmination of my lifelong ambition to build an exceptional, world-class, innovative, yet uniquely African institution to grow Nigeria’s next generation of leaders who will change the face of our continent.”
Wigwe who has pledged a princely $500m seed fund to power the project provides more insight into the groundbreaking vision. His words: “Through my foundation – The HOW Foundation, my mission is to shape the course of Nigeria’s future by grooming a fearless generation of Africans, who would be future leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs, who would propel Nigeria and Africa forward in leadership, socio-economic growth and inspiration.”
Peering into the future, he proclaims, “I cannot change the world overnight. But if I can empower even one youth today, tomorrow, they could join me in empowering others. With time, we could change the world. ”
Indisputably, the world needs the problem solvers, torch bearers and game changers that will form part of the ecosystem of learning. They will create sustainable solutions for the planet and people. Wigwe University promises with some audacity that they will have the most conducive environment to do this and attain their highest potentials.
With NUC’s approval on Friday, June 9, 2023, the dream of the university is officially realized after years of conception, planning and high-octane work. The University is located at Dr. Wigwe’s hometown, Isiokpo, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. It is about 15 minutes’ drive from Port Harcourt International Airport and occupies about a 400-hectare land space in the sub-urban community just 40 minutes from Owerri, the capital of Imo State.
With many of the facilities in the campus already built, Wigwe University is about ready to receive its first set of students. “Most of our buildings and facilities are ready or would soon be ready, and we expect to begin lectures in September 2024’’, says an elated Yvonne Victor-Olomu, the chief operating officer of The Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe (HOW) Foundation, the university’s promoter.
Significantly, the University has announced that it would officially commence academic programmes in September 2024, and advised prospective students and their families as well as academic enthusiasts to visit its official website for further information, inquiries, and registration details
WU is the second private university in the state but unquestionably would be one of the best on the continent when fully completed. Founded in 2016 as a non-profit organization, the foundation is the special purpose vehicle through which Dr. Wigwe executes his numerous philanthropic activities. The HOW Foundation focuses on the critical arenas of education, youth empowerment through leadership and mentorship and health.
Browsing a soft copy brochure containing pictures of buildings in the massive campus clearly indicates it would be one of the most beautifully landscaped and planned campuses in the world and would change both the economic fortunes and development narrative of the people for good.
Wigwe University will offer courses in Science; Technology (AI, Robotics programmes and other futuristic niches); Engineering; Arts (Creative Arts and science-based Art Programmes such as Gaming and Computer Creative, etc) and Mathematics (STEAM); Management and Social Sciences at the start.
It would then subsequently offer courses in Medical Sciences; Medicine; Law and Post Graduate Degrees. It will have linkage relationships with top foreign universities that would facilitate students’ exchange programs. The thrust of the university is to create leaders and entrepreneurs who will, upon graduation, be focused on creation of jobs, as opposed to job-seeking.
Although there are many universities in the country, they have not substantially filled the void that exists in the nation’s tertiary education. WU is therefore being deliberately and carefully designed to fill these gaps, some of which are outdated curriculum; poor funding; decrepit facilities and infrastructure; poorly paid and motivated workforce.
The motivation for establishing the university was principally borne out of Herbert Wigwe’s burning desires to give back to Nigeria, a country he loves passionately. He realized that education and healthcare are two areas that his social interventions would make the greatest impact on Nigerians.
In designing the academic and non-academic programs at WU, Dr. Wigwe has hired academicians from top US universities and European institutions to work with experts from across the world, including Nigeria. Undoubtedly, the people of Isiokpo community are enthusiastic about the huge investment coming to their town.
With the 37 newly licensed private universities, there are now 238 universities in the country, of which 147 are private, 43 federal government-owned and 48 state government-owned. But graduates from these institutions face prolonged periods of unemployment because the jobs have dried up and they were never equipped with entrepreneurial skills.
Indeed, the scope of the vision behind Wigwe University, Omueke-Isiokpo, Ikwere, Rivers State, aligns with that of South Africa’s revolutionary first black president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela.
Mandela held that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world and no country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.” He further observed that “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
According to Wigwe, the scholars will be able to choose management, science and engineering, information technology and creative arts courses. The institution will need as much as $500 million to scale up in five years, he said.
His words: “The school will be hybrid. Technology can help the university achieve the same quality of education as US and UK University and “I don’t need 100 years or billions of dollars to achieve the same quality of education as we find in those schools. India is churning out a lot of developers through a single building.”
Nigeria is facing a staggering skills crisis. One in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund, while just 11.8% of the nation’s working-age population earn a wage. Last year, Nigeria spent about 96% of its revenue servicing debt, leaving little for education.
Significantly, the lack of funding is attracting investors to the sector. As many as 147 private universities have been established since 1999, compared with 115 state-run institutions.
According to Bloomberg, wealthy Nigerians send their children overseas for higher education. At least 44,195 residents were studying in UK universities in 2022, the highest in eight years, according to the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency. Only China and India had more students studying in the UK. Canada and the US are also popular destinations for Nigerian students.
Wigwe is planning to recruit 30% of teaching staff from the UK and the US.
According to Wigwe, WU is “A university that would create a new generation of fearless leaders and also be one of the best universities in the continent” and the institution which will have a 24/7 power supply within the campus and contiguous environs and set new continental standards of excellence.”
Wigwe is today one of the most fearless African financial sector leaders astutely superintending the monstrous growth of the Access Bank Group from a mere commercial bank straight to a continental financial behemoth on its way to merited global recognition.
The Wigwe University cited in his hometown Isiokpo, would have a 60% local and 40% expatriate faculty population, with about 200 buildings spread over 400 hectares of land. A very unque, exciting dimension is the announcement that students of the university would spend one year abroad getting international exposure.
The University will also undoubtedly spark a great infrastructural development in and around Isiokpo. This will consequently open up not only that region but the whole of South-south to international attention.
Todate, it’s hardly debatable that Nigeria and Africa’s development quandary at this juncture of human history is firmly linked to how cavalierly its leadership has been treating the education of its children. And this has gotten the laser-sharp attention of Dr. Wigwe.
It is a given that powerful visions attract ideas, people and other resources. They create the momentum and will to incept imperative changes. They inspire individuals, complementary organizations and institutions to commit, to persist and to give their best. This is Dr. Wigwe’s forte.
It is worthy of note is that in setting sail to actualise his tertiary education institution project, Dr. Wigwe certainly is not the kind of personality who stays tamely at the end of received prescriptions. He covets knowledge-driven innovations, proactive engagement with stake-holders and policy makers even in fluid operating environments. Perhaps most importantly he believes in sure-footed, decisive action. These dimensions have been boldly mirrored in the challenging pathways he has trodden.
Cut to the bone, university education is more than the next level in the learning process. It is a critical component of human development globally. It provides not only the high-level skills necessary for every labour market but also the training essential for teachers, doctors, nurses, civil servants, engineers, humanists, entrepreneurs, scientists, social scientists, and a myriad of other personnel which Nigeria and Africa badly need.
It is these trained individuals who develop the capacity and analytical skills that drive local economies, support civil society, teach children, lead effective governments, and make important decisions which affect entire societies.
This is the philosophical and foundational backbone of Wigwe University with which it aims to reawaken Africa, the continent that cradled humanity.
