“For seven years, Winifred Agboola fought to complete her education at a state university. She put in seven years of effort. Seven years of sacrifice. And seven years of hope. And yet the finish line just kept moving, and moving, and moving. And she could never graduate. Then life — as it often does — spoke louder than her plans, and she made the decision that mothers across this land, across this continent, make every day. She stepped back from school, went home, and had the next 10 years of her life to raising children.
Ten years. I want you to understand that number. 10 years during which the dream of a degree never left her — it just had to wait. She focused on being a wife, a mother, and an entrepreneur. But underneath all of it, she was still somebody who had not given up on herself or the belief that a degree was a meaningful incremental step in the progress of her life. She hung on to that dream, and when she found Miva, she did not find a shortcut — she found a door that finally fit her life. And in three and a half years, balancing every one of the responsibilities at once — the responsibility she previously held with the responsibilities that were to come from Miva, she completed what had waited 10 years.
She stands here today before you not just with a certificate, but as living proof that the barrier was never her ability — it was access. What was missing was a university that could reach her where she was standing. A university that could reach her in her home in that particular season of her life without trying to ask her to abandon anything. Miva was that university. And I want you to remember her face. Because Winifred is the argument. Winifred is the proof.” ~ Sim Shagaya, Founder and Chancellor, Miva Open University during his speech at the 2026 Miva Maiden Convocation Ceremony.
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#MivaConvocation2026
For Aniekeme Umoh, Chief Operating Officer at the uLesson Group, seeing our maiden graduating class reach this milestone is both exciting and deeply rewarding.
As she reflects on the journey to this moment, she celebrates not only the hard work of our graduating students, but also the dedication of everyone who has supported them along the way.
Her message to the graduating class:
"It’s such an honour to celebrate you and to celebrate all your accomplishments. I wish you the very, very best and continue to reach higher."
Join us for our Maiden Convocation Ceremony on 20 June 2026 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.
RSVP via https://t.co/YobWAjrKtK 💙
#MivaConvocationCeremony #MivaConvocation2026 #MivaConvocation26 #MivaOpenUniversity
As MIVA Open University @mivauniversity celebrates the convocation of graduates at Nigeria's first private Open University, it marks another milestone in expanding access to quality higher education. Open and Distance Learning is breaking barriers of age, distance, and occupation, making university education available to every Nigerian. The future of education is flexible, inclusive, and technology-driven. Congratulations to MIVA and its pioneering graduates. Congratulations @VCNOUN@nounofficial_ for setting the pace of ODL in Nigeria and West Africa at large. @DrTunjiAlausa
“The philosophy behind Miva is about opportunity and impact. At our core, Miva's purpose is simple yet profound: to prepare people for opportunity and improve society through education
We believe that when you equip a single individual with the right skills, you're not just equipping a resume; you're liberating a family.
Today marks a historic reflection point for Miva Open University; Our focus is transformational research; turning ideas into improved lives.” ~ Prof. Tayo Arulogun, Vice Chancellor, Miva Open University
Join us live on YouTube: https://t.co/CSuA6S81v6
#MivaConvocation2026
"Many of you sitting here today are working adults. You are mothers and fathers who, despite holding down a full day's work, chose to open a laptop to study at ten o'clock at night, when the house had gone quiet, when your body was begging you to sleep, and instead you studied.
You did it anyway.
That is the first thing I want said in this hall today, loudly enough for the cameras and for everyone watching at home to hear it: you did it anyway." ~ Sim Shagaya, Chancellor of Miva Open University and Executive Chairman of The uLesson Group
Join us live on YouTube: https://t.co/fXdKRkfxDH
#MivaConvocation2026
"Graduates of Miva.
They said a university like this couldn't be built here. We built it.
They said students like you couldn't make it. You're sitting here.
They say the future will be made somewhere else and handed to Africa. You are going to be among the people who create that future.
We were told it couldn't be done. Go and keep proving them wrong." ~ Sim Shagaya, Chancellor of Miva Open University and Executive Chairman of The uLesson Group
Join us live on YouTube: https://t.co/fXdKRkfxDH
#MivaConvocation2026