Officials from the London Academy Business School (LABS) and the University of Sunderland are actively pursuing approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to offer degree programs in Nigeria. This collaboration seeks to expand educational opportunities in the country and enhance the quality of higher education.
A delegation from the University of Sunderland, led by Dr. Derek Watson, an associate professor from the Faculty of Business Law and Tourism, confirmed their intentions following a meeting with the acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, in Abuja. Dr. Watson expressed the productive nature of the meeting, highlighting the University of Sunderland’s extensive experience spanning over 30 years.
Dr. Watson stated, “What we have agreed on today is the criticality of following the compliance procedures. In addition to that, we would source credible academics to deliver our programs from LABS who are qualified teachers and also practicing consultants. The students will receive the same experience as those studying in England.”
The President and Director of Studies at the London Academy Business School, Dr. Larry Jones-Esan, emphasized that their visit to the NUC was aimed at obtaining recognition to operate programs in Nigeria. He clarified that while they do not require NUC accreditation, recognition is essential to ensure the degrees they offer hold value for students in Nigeria.
Dr. Jones-Esan explained, “If we run any courses in Nigeria without them recognizing it, that degree is useless, and they cannot do NYSC (National Youth Service Corps). So, we do not want that to be the case.” The collaboration between LABS and the University of Sunderland is regarded as a significant development, recognizing the immense potential for providing higher education opportunities in Nigeria.
Dr. Jones-Esan pointed out the pressing challenge of millions of Nigerian students seeking admission to universities every year, with only a fraction gaining admission. He stated, “If two million people apply for university admissions every year in Nigeria and only 700,000 are getting a place, that is a problem and that is a challenge, and they want to solve that problem, and we think we have come at the right time.”
This initiative holds the promise of addressing the educational needs of many aspiring students and furthering the partnership between educational institutions in the United Kingdom and Nigeria.