Published on: April 2, 2025
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By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
Tributes rained yesterday on one of Nigeria’s successful entrepreneurs, founder and chancellor of Miva Open University,Sim Shagaya, as he marked his 50 years birthday.
Friends, associates, family members among many others took turn to pay glowing tributes to the Nigerian media and technology entrepreneur,who is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer,CEO of uLesson Education Limited,an app built to make education available to learners across Africa.
They variously hailed Shagaya’s achievements at 50, describing the founder of West Africa’s largest electronic commerce website, Konga.com,as a great innovator whose visionary ideas has positively shaped Africa.
They described the celebrant,who is also the founder of E-Motion Advertising, a leading out-of-home media company,as the pride of Africa, wishing him many more success in life.
The Sterling Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar Suleiman,who delivered keynote address at the well attended event, described Sim Shagaya as selfless man who strives to redefine the future of Nigeria and indeed Africa through education in many other ways.
Abubakar,who also described the celebrant as full of creativity with “crazy ideas”,commended Shagaya for using his innovative ideas to make positive impact on the African continent.
“Something that kept coming up when you look at Sim’s life online, it was that he was ahead of his time. A lot of the things he did in his early days were simply ahead of his time,”he said.
Noting that hardwork pays,he explained that his implicit confidence in the celebrant made him to accept to join his advisory board in Miva Open University.
“I didn’t hesitate. I had already accepted a similar commitment somewhere, but I did not think twice to say ‘yes.’ And it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made,”he said.
He commended Mr. Shagaya for his unwavering commitment to give the African continent one of the best universities by establishing the Miva Open University.
On her part,the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Entrepreneurship, Chalya Shagaya; described the celebrant as one of Nigeria’s most influential tech entrepreneurs.
“This administration, under the Renewed Hope agenda, deeply appreciates entrepreneurs like Sim, who continue to work tirelessly to drive economic development and contribute meaningfully to our great nation. We are equally committed to advocating for implementing entrepreneur-friendly policies that create an enabling environment for innovation, enterprise, and inclusive growth.
” As we reflect on leadership and innovation today, remember, the greatest success isn’t in what you build for yourself, but what you create for others,”she said.
The Vice Chancellor of Miva Open University,Prof. Tayo Arulogun commended the celebrant, expressing gratitude for his vision and commitment to providing accessible and affordable education to Nigerians.
Prof. Arulogun highlighted the founder’s tireless efforts in establishing and growing institution, which has enabled the institution to become a leading provider of online education in Nigeria.
He hailed Shagaya’s leadership and dedication to promoting educational excellence, noting that his passion for education has made a significant impact on the lives of countless students who have benefited from the university’s programmes.
Responding, Shagaya reflected on the institution’s growth, noting that it began with 500 students and has since expanded to a population of 10,000.
Shagaya disclosed plans to expand the university’s population to 100,000 by 2027 and potentially 1 million in the near future.
While thanking all the people that turned in to celebrate him,he said:”I feel very lucky, very fortunate, very blessed on so many levels, and there’s a weight of responsibility that I also feel right now.”
“Miva University, in many ways, is a continuation of just a long walk, and, you know, at certain chapters of that walk, I had not really understood why I was doing certain things, why I was pursuing certain things, but I think I am getting some clarity now.
” I think if I had not gone through the journey I had gone through, of which I have talked to many of you, just on a bilateral one-on-one way, I would not be thinking about education and ULesson and Miva the way I am thinking about it right now,”he said.
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