In his welcome address at the 2026 Miva matriculation ceremony, Vice-Chancellor Professor Tayo Arulogun welcomed 12,260 new students into the university community. Speaking on the theme “Celebrating New Beginnings”, he highlighted Miva’s mission to expand access to quality higher education and urged students to approach their studies with discipline, integrity and a commitment to making a difference.
In This Post
The Vice-Chancellor’s Address
Protocol
The Chancellor of Miva Open University,
The members of the Board of Trustees,
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council,
Distinguished Members of the Governing Council,
Our Keynote Speaker, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organisation, and his wife,
Representatives of the National Universities Commission and other regulatory bodies,
Visiting vice-chancellors and their representatives,
Registrar, Bursar, Librarian and other Principal Officers,
Deans, Directors, Heads of Department and Members of the Senate,
Faculty and staff of Miva Open University,
Our partners and friends of the university,
Parents, guardians, families and sponsors,
Our matriculating students, here in Abuja, at our viewing centres across the country, and online wherever you are,
Gentlemen and ladies of the press,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome
It is my singular honour and great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2026 Matriculation Ceremony of Miva Open University, here in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, the heart of our nation.
Today is a day of new beginnings. That is the theme we chose for this ceremony, and it captures exactly what this moment means for every student we receive into our community today.
I extend an equally warm welcome to everyone joining us from our viewing centres in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Jos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Uyo, Kaduna, and Langtang, and to all who are with us online, in Nigeria and beyond. You may be miles away from this hall, but you are no less a part of this ceremony. That, in itself, is the Miva story: distance is no longer a barrier to belonging.
Miva and the Meaning of Matriculation
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.
Today we formally admit 12,260 students into our undergraduate programmes. You come from the 36 states of the federation and over 80 countries. Your diversity is our strength, and it reflects the open, borderless university we are building together.
Matriculation is far more than a formality. When you take the matriculation oath today, you become full members of this university. You accept its privileges, and you accept its responsibilities. You commit to honesty in your work, respect for one another, and obedience to the rules and regulations that protect the integrity of the degree you will one day hold.
Our Keynote Speaker
We are deeply honoured to have with us today Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organisation.
Dr Ihekweazu is a Nigerian whose work has shaped public health at home and across the world. As the pioneering leader of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, he helped build an institution that Nigerians came to trust in some of our most difficult moments. Today he serves humanity at the highest levels of global health.
His journey speaks directly to our students. It shows that a Nigerian education, combined with discipline, curiosity and service, can open doors anywhere in the world. Sir, thank you for making time to inspire this new generation of Miva scholars. We look forward eagerly to your address.
A Charge to Our Matriculating Students
My dear students, permit me to speak to you directly.
First, own your learning. Open and digital education gives you great freedom, but freedom demands discipline. No lecturer will knock on your door to remind you of a deadline. Plan your week, protect your study time, and show up for every live lesson, assessment and discussion forum as though you were sitting in the front row of a lecture hall.
Second, guard your integrity. Your Miva degree will be worth exactly what its holders make it worth. Do your own work. Cite your sources. Use technology, including artificial intelligence, responsibly as a tool to deepen your understanding, never as a shortcut that robs you of it. Examination malpractice and plagiarism have no place here.
Third, build your community. You may study from different cities, but you are not alone. Reach out to your classmates, your learning facilitators, and our student support team. Use our study centres and partner centres. Join the conversations. The friendships and networks you build now will serve you for a lifetime.
Finally, think beyond the certificate. Nigeria and Africa need problem-solvers, innovators and leaders of character. Let your education make you more useful to your family, your community, and your country.
The road ahead will not always be easy. There will be late nights, competing demands and moments of doubt. But every one of you was admitted because we believe you can succeed. Hold on to that belief, and we will walk the journey with you.
Appreciation and Closing
To our parents, guardians, spouses, employers, and sponsors: thank you. Your sacrifices and support made today possible. We ask you to keep encouraging our students, especially when the journey gets demanding.
I thank our Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, the BoT members and members of the Governing Council, GCEO and the X-Team of the uLesson Group for their vision and steady guidance. I thank the National Universities Commission, JAMB, NYSC, and our partners for their support. And I thank our faculty and staff, whose dedication behind the scenes brings this University to life every single day, including the teams who have made it possible for this ceremony to reach every viewing centre and screen.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Senate, management, and the entire community of Miva Open University, I welcome our new students into the Miva family. You are no longer applicants; you are Miva scholars. Welcome to your new beginning.
Thank you, and God bless you all.