Gossy Ukanwoke is the founder of Beni American University, Nigeria’s first private online university. He launched the venture in 2012 and has since created a 12-week online program offering a variety of courses in project management, digital journalism, global marketing, entrepreneurship and innovation and corporate diplomacy. The classes are internet-enabled which allows students access to their courses at any time.
The courses range in price from $100 to $300 and have grown in popularity. Since 2012 he has hired 10 instructors, and has close to 200 students enrolled. Students are working towards earning degrees in Business Management, International Business and Management Information Systems.
According to CNN, Ukanwoke stated “We are providing executive programs for graduates who are looking for employment and want to build up their resumes, or managers who want to climb up the hierarchy of their companies.”
Under Nigerian law universities are required to have a physical campus, which has not stopped Ukanwoke as he purchased land in Benue State where he plans to build the physical campus.
Mixing technology and education is nothing new for Ukanwoke as he created a social networking site called Students Circle as an undergraduate in 2010 with the aim of connecting students with free educational resources.
With his latest venture he has created access to education for busy working mothers, business owners looking to sharpen their skills and a new level of flexibility for Nigerians seeking higher education.
What are your thoughts on Nigeria’s first online university?
