Why we established Hope James varsity —VC

By Elizabeth Osayande

The Vice Chancellor of 

Hope James University, Prof. Olu Akinkugbe, has said the institution, established in 2023, was not merely focussed on providing certificates in business like many other schools but also to connect scalable skills with viable employment opportunities.

Akinkugbe made this declaration during a visit from the Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, to discuss the resource and accreditation process for three postgraduate programmes.

The pioneer VC of the university said:  “We didn’t start this business school just to create another business school. In this AI-driven world, marked by digital transformation and film technology, our students are concerned with the return on innovation and employability.

‘’They come here not to obtain mere certificates but to gain skills that will facilitate their employment. The world is shifting from a knowledge-based to a skills-based approach, one that emphasises immersive and experiential learning.

‘’That’s why we set up our school — to provide skills that lead to employability and a clear employment pipeline.”

Discussing the university’s relevance, he added:  “What we are trying to build is a unique model within the Nigerian education landscape. We aim to position ourselves above Lagos Business School in terms of hybrid learning.

‘’We are also establishing partnerships with universities worldwide, including collaborations with institutions in Canada. Notably, we are planning to develop a film technology lab in partnership with the University of Toronto and the University of Texas.”

On the outcome of the NUC’s visit, Akinkugbe expressed optimism, saying “we are hopeful for a 99 per cent acceptance rate from the NUC accreditation team.

‘’We have the necessary resources and facilities. The accreditation is for three programs: FinTech and Analytics; Innovation, Intrapreneurship and Entrepreneurship; and Economic Development and Policy Analysis.”

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