Wigwe University: Africa’s New Vanguard for Building Future Scholars is Set to Take-off

FOCUS

Bayo Akinloye

As of June 2023, Nigeria has 264 universities (public and private), and a few more are expected to spring up in the near future. A certain ivory tower in the mould yet to be seen or experienced in the country is set to kick off. Envisioned as an inventive university, an innovative institution and a playground for ingenious minds and futuristic endeavours, the soon-to-start university offers some boundless opportunities that transcend the run-of-the-mill learning platforms that many academic institutions promote.

It was conceptualised, designed and brought to life on a grand scale. It is summed up as a “fearless culture.” Resilience. Excellence. Values. A distinctive perspective, unique foundation and world-class set-up with an intellectual and entrepreneurial spirit conceptualised into a modern academic institution in the heart of Africa’s most populous nation will take off in less than 330 days.

This one-of-a-kind institution is the Wigwe University envisioned to be the best. The promoter is leaving nothing to chance and sparing no expense to build the most all-rounded university comparable to any in the Western world.

On June 9, 2023, the National Universities Commission approved and issued an operational licence to Wigwe University in Isiokpo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Its purpose-setting and sustainability goals have combined to guide the university to build a campus that evokes the heritage of Port-Harcourt as the ‘Garden City’. Wigwe University mixes Rivers’ natural endowments with sustainable design principles to create an exciting harmony between its campus and natural environment.

“We embody Nigeria’s resilience, fearless culture, values, and entrepreneurial spirit. We are the African spirit of strength in numbers, teamwork, and collaboration,” Wigwe University said. “We symbolize and express the irrepressible human spirit of design thinking. We strive for sustainability and a shared prosperous future for all.”

Wigwe University’s vision is “to ignite Africa’s potential for prosperity, nurture thoughtful, fearless leaders, and become the leading university in Africa,” with a mission “to set a new standard of educational distinction for our continent, students and educators, and nurture the next generation of African leaders as guiding lights for positive impact in a rapidly changing world.”

Its undiluted values will guide its cerebral and humane faculty and inspire its corporate culture, existence and choices to “be fearless, strive for greatness, think differently, lead through service, and be engaged.”

Once upon a founder: Herbert Wigwe

“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,” he stated. “My name is Herbert Wigwe, and I challenge you to be fearless.”

Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe is a visionary. A progressive business leader, philanthropist, and humanitarian, Wigwe has been an undisputed leader in Nigeria and Africa’s economic and social transformation. Acclaimed as one of Africa’s foremost corporate bankers, Wigwe is the cofounder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings PLC, credited with moulding Access Bank into the international powerhouse it is today. Wigwe embodies the spirit of daring leadership as he continues revolutionising businesses, lives, and now, with Wigwe University, a one-of-a-kind tertiary institution in Nigeria and on the African continent.

Wigwe University is the culmination of the foremost banker’s lifelong ambition to build an exceptional, world-class, innovative, yet uniquely African institution to grow the next generation of leaders who will change the face of the African continent.

Thus, Wigwe University is the African gateway to the world of entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and impact. Herbert’s mission, through Wigwe University, is to change the course of Nigeria’s future through committed and world-class faculty and globally relevant and locally impactful curricula taught through novel methods to rival the globe’s most respected universities.

His limitless courage, passion, energy, and dedication to excellence are the foundation of our fearless ethos and spirit. Here at Wigwe University, the fearless, like our founder, will make history. “The truth is that the end to the good we can achieve is nowhere in sight. There’s so much more to conquer,” Wigwe noted.

The banking magnate added, “There are more lives to impact and generations to uplift to achieve their full potential. History will favour the brave, those who knew their limitations only because they had to defy them. History will favour the fearless.”

Laying a foundation

Wigwe, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Holdings, laid the foundation in May 2023 to start the uniquely grand private university at his hometown, Isiokpo, in Ikwere local council in Rivers. It is a 15-minute drive from the Port Harcourt International Airport. The university’s sustainability plan consists of eight pillars that address environmental, social and governance issues, namely policy laws, standards and best practices; self-sustenance; pollution control, conservation, resource efficiency; social protection and inclusion; gender equality; sustainable development education; partnerships; and monitoring reporting and governance.

The vision is clear: Wigwe wants the academic institution to be a world-class ivory tower, climate-friendly and global in outlook, with 60 per cent Nigerian and 40 per cent foreign faculty of experienced minds and hands. With the foundation of the expansive university set, about 200 different buildings are expected to stand on the 400 hectares of land of the institution.

“The university will begin its first lecture in September 2024 with its host community and its environs powered by uninterrupted electricity supply when fully operational,” Wigwe announced during an inaugural meeting held on August 16, 2022, with the Isiokpo Council of Chiefs and other stakeholders in the community.

Wigwe University for the present and the future

Wigwe University is the university of the present and the future, built on the vision of a “shared future with the mission to ignite Africa’s potential for prosperity and nurture thoughtful and fearless leaders,” thus becoming the leading university in Africa. It sets a new standard of educational distinction for African students and educators. With its distinctively inventive, pragmatic and holistic approach to education, Nigerians and other Africans can experience the innovative educational experience and reality they often long for overseas at Wigwe University. It is an ivory tower forged in the mould of the Harvards, Oxfords of this world.

Yet, the university will uniquely nurture the next generation of African leaders as “guiding lights for positive impact” in a rapidly changing world.

“All our programmes are delivered to an international standard in collaboration with key international partners,” stated the university. “Our approach puts us in touch with world-leading curricula, joint research and international exchanges and internship programmes.”

Through these relationships, Wigwe University said it would facilitate opportunities for interactions with prominent writers, artists, scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs, assuring that “across all faculties, we facilitate fearless thinking.”

Wigwe University’s undergraduate programmes, from degrees to online courses, offer opportunities for all kinds of fearless, inspired, continual learners. The university will start with at least the colleges of art, management and social sciences, engineering, and science and computing.

Inside a university of the future

At Wigwe University, students’ accommodation provides a safe space for learners to be on campus and connected to like-minded peers, libraries and campus facilities. There are provisions for sports and societies to connect around shared interests and values.

“We believe in a balanced, sustainable lifestyle. From time outdoors to working as a sports team to fostering strong understanding and relationships between peers – our sports and societies offer something for everyone to get involved in,” the school said. Wigwe University is built on the vision of a shared future, with clear recognition that the world needs problem solvers, torchbearers and game-changers that will form part of its learning community to create sustainable solutions for “our planet and people.”

“They will have the most conducive environment to do this and attain their highest potential,” Wigwe University assures its potential students.

Pathway into Wigwe University

The JAMB portal will be opened to purchase registration forms in December 2023. Exact dates will be published (on the university’s website and social media platforms, with appropriate links provided). Prospective students outside Nigeria can email Wigwe University via info@wigweuniversity.edu.ng to get detailed and requisite information. A screening process will follow the mandatory national Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exams administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board JAMB.

The university believes that the world needs problem solvers, torchbearers and game-changers who will form part of its community of learning to create sustainable solutions for the world. “They will have the most conducive environment to do this and to attain their highest potential,” said the university.

Glimpse into Wigwe University’s faculty

Prof Miles Davis has been appointed vice-chancellor of the soon-to-kick-off ivory tower. Davis has a PhD in human and organisational sciences from George Washington University, an MA in human resource development from Bowie State University and a BA in communications from Duquesne University. He was the inaugural chair of the Management Science Department at the Harry F. Byrd Jr. School of Business at Shenandoah University. He became the founding director of its Institute for Entrepreneurship, and later, Davis became the dean of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business.

Davis is an authority on entrepreneurship whose most recent work focuses on integrity, values and principles in the business world, and faith-based entrepreneurship. He is a member of the Society of Leadership Fellows at St. George’s House (their first non-UK-based member), an organization based out of Windsor Castle in England that brings together world leaders in a variety of fields to analyze contemporary issues. Davis sits on the board of the Amana Mutual Fund Trust. Davis is an awardee of numerous bodies. Most recently, he was named the ‘Portland Business Journal President of the Year’ (the first university president to be so named).

Another personality to keep the institution running is Prof Nelson Uzoechi-Uzoma Alino, the deputy vice-chancellor (Administration/Dean College of Management and Social Science).

Before joining Wigwe University, Alino held the esteemed position of William S. Perlroth, professor of Accounting and Taxation at Quinnipiac University. During his last eight years at Quinnipiac, he was the interim associate dean, department chair, and director of the MSA programme. Alino received several awards and nominations for his teaching and research.

His leadership and dedication to innovation were instrumental in achieving a separate AACSB accreditation for the Accounting Program at Quinnipiac University. He is also responsible for initiating the university’s highly acclaimed Volunteer Income Tax (VITA) programme, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the US, a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) in Nigeria, and a Certified Forensic Accountant (CRFAC®️) in the USA.

Dal Didia (deputy vice-chancellor, academics): Before joining Wigwe University, Didia, a professor of Economics and chair of the Department of Economics, Finance, and General Business at Jackson State University, was also a professor and chair of the Department of Economics, School of Arts and Sciences, American University of Nigeria (AUN) Yola. As chair of the AUN Senate Curriculum Committee, Didia led a comprehensive curriculum revision, adding more programmes while streamlining the curricular development process at AUN. Didia has over 30 years’ experience in academia.

Board of trustees

Among the exceptional leaders and experts who lend their insights and experience to shape the strategic direction of Wigwe University’s board of trustees are accomplished individuals from diverse fields committed to advancing education and fostering a bright future for the university, including Dr Awosika (a former chair of Access Bank Plc), an accomplished administrator with over three decades’ experience in public sector governance. She is the chair of the Chams Plc and Josephine Consulting Limited board; Mosun Belo-Olusoga, former chair of Access Bank Plc, is the principal consultant/programme director of KRC Limited; Tokini Peterside-Schwebig is a Nigerian entrepreneur and businesswoman. She created ART X Lagos, the first international art fair in West Africa; Prof Fabian Ajogwu is a SAN and the founding partner of Kenna Partners. He chairs the Novare Group in Nigeria (owners of Novare malls), ARM Harith Infrastructure Ltd and NES Global as an independent non-executive; and Dr Kenneth Ken-Worgu, the chairman and founder of Nortonel Group of Companies, with over 20 years of comprehensive experience in the oil and gas sector with massive and enviable exposure in operations, sales and marketing.

Others are Olumide Soyombo, the founder of LeadPath, a seed capital investment fund dedicated to local tech startups. He focuses on powering revolutionary innovations and ideas in Africa by bridging the gap between the startup stage and market dominance through funding and structure support; and Uche Wigwe is the managing partner of Wigwe and Partners, a firm established with a mandate to deliver top-notch legal advocacy and advisory services with international best practices and standards. A seasoned professional with an eclectic mix of local and international experience garnered over 20 years.