Nile University of Nigeria announced on Monday the unveiling of its Business School as part of reforms to strengthen skills‑based learning, deepen global partnerships and position its graduates for the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the 2025 convocation in Abuja, Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Dilli Dogo said the school will “define the university at a time when the institution is taking another giant leap into the future.”
He added that several distinguished guests, industry leaders and academic partners are expected to attend the ceremony, which will include the award of degrees, presentation of prizes, a convocation lecture and the conferment of an honorary doctorate on former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Africa missed the first three industrial revolutions. We must not lose out in the fourth
“Our programmes are designed to ensure that the quality of education we provide is second to none,” Dogo noted.
He said this year’s convocation is themed “Redefining education to meet the needs of the 21st‑century workforce – a shift from paper qualifications to verifiable skills.
The university’s guiding principle is “Beyond Degrees,” and its goal is to produce graduates who are properly taught, properly skilled and globally competitive.
The inauguration of the Nile University Business School was the highlight of the day, drawing prominent academics, industry leaders and stakeholders.
At the unveiling, Dogo thanked partners such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, which has supported the university’s postgraduate programmes, and applauded DigiTech’s representative for volunteering to teach postgraduate students pro bono.
He introduced Prof. Noel Tagoe, a globally acclaimed scholar formerly of the University of Oxford, as the school’s inaugural dean. “We brought him here because we are serious about what we do,” Prof. Dogo said. “We are committed to ensuring that everything we undertake defines the expectations of Nigerians.”
In his address, Tagoe said the school was created not to compete with others but to become a world‑class centre of excellence dedicated to developing African innovators and leaders.
He outlined a strategic model built on five pillars, namely: Bridging the gap between education and employability; Integrating public policy, leadership and entrepreneurship; Developing the “Four Xs”; Delivering African‑focused solutions with global standards; and teaching through real‑industry projects
“We don’t teach strategy so you can recite Porter’s Five Forces. We teach strategy so you can solve strategic problems in Nigeria”, the dean noted.
The Business School will use simulations and case studies from sectors such as oil and gas, technology, agribusiness, manufacturing, finance and public policy.
A learning centre is planned for Ikeja, Lagos, following research showing that over half of executive‑education prospects are based in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Founded in 2009 in Abuja, Nile University of Nigeria is a private multidisciplinary institution offering more than 40 undergraduate and 50 postgraduate programmes across eight faculties.
It has been a member of Honoris United Universities since 2 July 2020, part of Africa’s largest private higher‑education network (16 institutions in 10 countries) with the motto “Education for Impact.”
The university contributes to the network’s goals of boosting employability, fostering innovation and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
