Prof. Olu Akinkugbe, Vice-Chancellor of James Hope University Seeks NUC Accreditation for New Postgraduate Programmes

James Hope University has expressed optimism about securing accreditation from the National Universities Commission for three new postgraduate programmes aimed at addressing skills gaps in Nigeria’s education sector.The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Olu Akinkugbe, disclosed this while receiving an NUC accreditation team at the university’s campus in Lekki, Lagos, on Monday.

The university is seeking accreditation for postgraduate programmes in FinTech and Analytics, Innovation, Intrapreneurship and Entrepreneurship, as well as Economic Development and Policy Analysis.

Speaking during the visit, Akinkugbe explained that the proposed programmes were designed to equip students with practical skills relevant to today’s rapidly evolving digital economy. According to him, the university is positioning itself as a skills-driven postgraduate institution focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.

He expressed confidence that the university would secure approval for the programmes, citing the availability of adequate facilities and academic resources.

“We are hopeful of 99 per cent acceptance by the NUC accreditation team. We have the resources and facilities,” he said.

The vice-chancellor stressed that the institution was intentionally established to move beyond the traditional certificate-based education model to one focused on employability and practical skills acquisition.

“We didn’t start the business school for the sake of another business school. In this AI world, the digital transformation and FinTech world, students are concerned with employability and return on innovation,” he stated.

According to him, the university’s academic model prioritises immersive and experiential learning that prepares graduates for real-world challenges.

Akinkugbe identified skills mismatch as one of the major problems affecting Nigeria’s education system, noting that the university’s programmes were tailored to bridge the gap between academic training and industry demands.

He further revealed that the institution is planning international collaborations to establish a FilmTech laboratory in partnership with University of Toronto and University of Texas.

The vice-chancellor also disclosed plans to establish a School of Computing and Robotics, with programmes in artificial intelligence, robotics, computer studies, and human resource management expected to commence next year.

Providing insight into the university’s growth journey, Akinkugbe explained that the institution obtained its operating licence in April 2021 and formally commenced academic activities in 2023 with MBA programmes before expanding into specialised master’s degrees in 2024.

He noted that the university has already graduated its first MBA set, while another batch alongside pioneer students in specialised master’s programmes is expected to graduate this year.

On future expansion plans, the vice-chancellor said the university intends to launch undergraduate programmes by 2028 at its Agbor campus in Delta State.

According to him, the undergraduate programmes will focus on agriculture and health sciences while promoting community-centred learning and global competitiveness.

Also speaking ahead of the accreditation visit, the university registrar, Dr Achugamonu Uzoma, described the exercise as a major milestone in the institution’s growth.

He said the accreditation process reflects the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, quality assurance, and world-class education in Nigeria.