L-R: Joseph Amoru, Treasurer, GPAAN; Kami Ezenwa, Lecturer, NIJ, Ogba; Pro. Tokunbo Akeredolu-Ale, President/Chairman BOT, Omniuniversity USA; Ayo Oyoze Baje, President, GPAAN; Steve Aya, Financial Secretary, GPAAN, and Onyeniran Apata.
Omniversity Imperial College LLC, Missouri, USA and its Lagos, Nigeria campus have partnered with the Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria (GPAAN) to promote practice-based learning designed to redefine the learning landscape across Africa.
The partnership was born during a meeting with leaders of the guild led by the institution's President and Chairman, Board of Trustees, one Professor Tokunbo Akeredolu-Ale and its President Ayo Oyoze Baje.
Other leaders of GPAAN present at the meeting included Cami Ezenwa, lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba; Joseph Amoru, Treasurer; Stephen Aya, Financial Secretary, and Onyeniran Apata, Education Editor of the Daily Times.
In his remarks, Professor Akeredolu-Ale highlighted the institution’s mission to shift the focus of education from paper competency to practical competency and real-world experience.
According to him, “We need legitimacy. We must practice what we preach. The man who stopped the war – was he a soldier? Professor Wole Soyinka has no PhD. Should we analyze PhDs only on the basis of thesis? Evaluation systems, evaluation and quality checks have to be developed.
“China, Rwanda and France emphasize results and practicality rather than academic titles. If Bill Gates signs your certificate, ask yourself – who certified him?”
According to him, education must be in line with the realities of the Artificial Intelligence era, where old educational models are giving way to innovation-driven, experience-based education.
He stressed, “We cannot stay on the old path. The dynamism of AI has made some educational approaches obsolete.”
Responding to questions on the registration of the institution, Akeredolu-Ele traced the origin of Omniuniversity to the Omnibus Global Academy established a decade ago.
He revealed that the Lagos registration was done about two years ago, while the Missouri, USA registration happened a year later.
“All our registrations undergo rigorous inspection,” he said.
“The university was found to be eligible for all certifications and approvals including those from the Lagos State Ministry of Tertiary Education,” he said.
He further explained that through its distance learning by correspondence model, Omniuniversity offers approved certificate, diploma, postgraduate, master, postdoctoral and fellowship qualifications designed to enhance the professional status and earning potential of learners.
“These programs are accredited, assessed, validated and awarded through recognized international bodies, making it possible for learners in Nigeria to acquire Canadian, British and American qualifications without leaving the country,” he said.
He also said that as part of its continued drive for innovation, the Omniuniversity was set to host the African Roundtable Workshop on Innovation between late November and early December 2025, which will bring together thought leaders from academia, media and industry.
Speaking on behalf of GPAAN, Kami Ezenwa commended Professor Akeredolu-Ale for his “spontaneous defense of the Omniversity’s revolutionary ideas” and described the institution’s practice-based model as “excellent, exemplary and futuristic”.
Describing Omniversity as a “game-changer in Nigeria’s education spectrum” for its strong focus on practical experience and skills acquisition, GPAAN President Baje stressed the timeliness and necessity of the partnership between the institution and GPAAN to promote and enhance its transformative educational vision.
He also commended the globally renowned professor of Artificial Intelligence-powered Marketing Communications, Leadership, Organizational and Risk Management, urging him to “keep the flag high” as Omniversity continues to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice in education across Africa and beyond.
