It was with great excitement that we welcomed over 12,000 new students at our 2026 matriculation ceremony on 17th October 2026, marking another milestone in our mission to make quality higher education accessible to more Nigerians.
The university’s student numbers have grown steadily since its first matriculation ceremony in 2023, when 500+ students were admitted. This increased to 3,000+ students in 2024 and 8,000+ in 2025. In 2026, Miva formally admitted 12,260 undergraduate students, reflecting the growing demand for flexible, accessible university education.
For thousands of learners across Nigeria and beyond, the 2026 Miva Matriculation ceremony marked the start of a new chapter. The ceremony took place just four months after Miva’s maiden convocation in June 2026, when 1,212 undergraduate and postgraduate students graduated.
Together, these milestones reflect the university’s progress in expanding access to higher education while supporting students through to graduation.
In This Post
Welcoming a New Set of Miva Stars
The 2026 Miva Matriculation ceremony took place in Abuja, with students and guests joining from viewing centres in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Jos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Uyo, Kaduna, and Langtang. Participants also joined online, extending the ceremony’s reach to students in different parts of Nigeria and beyond.
In his welcome address, the vice-chancellor, Professor Tayo Arulogun, described matriculation as more than a formal ceremony. He welcomed the new students into the Miva community and highlighted the university’s belief that quality higher education should be accessible to anyone willing to learn.
“Miva Open University was founded on a simple conviction: that quality higher education should be accessible to every Nigerian and every African who is willing to learn, regardless of location, age, occupation or circumstance. We were built to combine academic rigour with flexibility, so that a young school-leaver, a working professional, a parent and an entrepreneur can each pursue a degree without putting their lives on hold.”
Professor Arulogun also emphasised that the flexibility of online education comes with a responsibility to remain disciplined, uphold academic integrity, and take an active role in learning.
He further challenged them to look beyond earning a degree and consider how their education could help them contribute meaningfully to their families, communities and the country.
The Chancellor’s Charge on Discipline and Hard Work
At the 2026 Miva matriculation ceremony, Sim Shagaya, founder of the uLesson Group and Chancellor of Miva Open University, welcomed the new students and reflected on the growing opportunities and responsibilities that come with Africa’s expanding population. He emphasised that Miva was built to make quality education accessible to people traditional systems might otherwise hold back.
Shagaya reminded students that success would require more than talent, highlighting the importance of discipline, consistency, curiosity, and hard work. He also reaffirmed Miva’s commitment to academic rigour, student support, and practical learning that prepares graduates for meaningful work.
“It doesn’t matter how gifted you are; it doesn’t matter how smart or good-looking or talented [you are]; it comes down to discipline, consistency, small hours, a million small steps, day by day by day, compounding into something big, something powerful. A little bit of heroic effort every day, a willingness to ask why…be curious and dive deeper when other people have stopped asking. Do not just absorb the lectures; argue with them, test every idea against the world you already know, [and] question everything.”
Looking ahead, he shared Miva’s ambition to impact one million Africans over the next decade and called on students to contribute to Africa’s development by questioning ideas, supporting their peers and applying what they learn to real-world challenges.
A Call to Discipline, Integrity, and Making a Difference
The matriculation oath was another key moment of the ceremony. Through the oath, students pledged to uphold Miva’s core values of empathy, truthfulness, and innovation, while committing themselves to discipline, hard work, and academic integrity.
As members of the university community, our matriculants were reminded that earning a degree involves more than completing assessments. It also requires taking responsibility for their learning, respecting others, and developing the knowledge and skills needed to make a positive contribution to society.
The Keynote Address by Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, OON
We had the privilege of having Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, OON, Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organisation (WHO), deliver the keynote address.
Dr Ihekweazu’s career in public health, including his leadership of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), offered students an example of how knowledge, discipline, and public service can create meaningful impact.
He challenged the new Miva students to look beyond earning a university degree and focus on gaining an education that equips them to solve real problems. Drawing from his experience building the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), he emphasised the importance of curiosity, practical skills, integrity, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu reminded students that academic qualifications alone are not enough, sharing examples of graduates who struggled with basic workplace skills and students who demonstrated integrity by taking responsibility for their own learning. He also warned against relying on artificial intelligence to avoid thinking, encouraging students to use technology as a tool for learning rather than a substitute for it.
“Your education will…be more than a passport to personal comfort. It should help you understand the institutions around you, question what does not work, challenge injustice, create alternatives, and widen opportunities for others.
“Your degree may open doors for you, but your education should help you open doors for others. [A]s we begin these four years, I want you to reflect on the question at the heart of everything I am saying: Are you simply here to earn a degree, or are you here to gain an education? I hope you choose education.”
Continuing Miva’s Commitment to Accessible Education
The admission of 12,260 students at the 2026 Miva Matriculation ceremony represented a significant step in the university’s growth. From 500+ students in 2023 to more than 12,000 in 2026, the increase reflects Miva’s continued efforts to reach learners who might otherwise face barriers to university education.
As a private university licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), Miva offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes through online learning. Its model combines rigorous academic learning with the flexibility students need to balance education with work, family, and other commitments.
As the new students progress in this chapter, Miva reaffirms its purpose of preparing people for opportunities and improving society through education. The university remains committed to making higher education accessible, flexible, and affordable for Nigerians, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.