The Wigwe University, Rivers, has officially commenced its academic programmes with the admission of 200 pioneer students.
The university was established by the late Dr Herbert Wigwe, former Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, who tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash in the U.S. on Feb. 9, 2023.
The acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Marwan Al-Akaidi, announced the formal opening of the university during a short opening ceremony at its campus in Isiokpo, Rivers, on Thursday.
He explained that the university, established to provide a world-class education, would offer programmes in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), alongside Management and Arts.
“Through these diverse programmes, our students will develop the technical and creative skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world.’’
He noted that the university, founded on the principles of the late Wigwe, aspired to cultivate the next generation of African leaders capable of steering the continent towards prosperity.
“Our students will be empowered to become leaders in industries such as technology, business, and the creative arts, among others.
“Our diverse programmes will foster a new generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders, who will drive economic growth, social progress, and cultural enrichment across the continent,” he said.
Al-Akidi highlighted the university’s state-of-the-art facilities, which include modern classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and arts spaces designed to support a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities.
Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers praised Wigwe University for placing the state on the global map of academic excellence.
Fubara, represented by the Commissioner of Education, Dr Ovy Obi-Chukwuma, said that the vision of the late bank icon aligned with the state government’s commitment to making Rivers an education hub in Nigeria.
“This university will transform the landscape of undergraduate and postgraduate education in Nigeria, Africa, and globally.
“We urge the management to ensure that the founder’s dream is realised,” he stated.
Fubara also called on the host community of Isiokpo to support the university in achieving its goal of becoming the best learning institution in Africa.
Prof. Emeritus Julius Okojie , the university Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, encouraged all stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring the success of the university.
He expressed satisfaction with the rapid of infrastructural development on campus.
Blessing Wagor, the traditional ruler of Isiokpo kingdom, expressed the community’s continued shock over the sudden death of Wigwe.
“It still feels surreal and we pray that God guides the university’s staff in fulfilling Wigwe’s vision for this institution,” he said.
Ms Nwogu Obari, a scholarship recipient admitted to study Software Engineering, shared her excitement over the campus’s state-of-art facilities.
She expressed eagerness to learn from some of the world’s leading lecturers and excel in her academic pursuit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wigwe University, spread over 600 hectares of land, has the capacity to admit 11,400 students across 400 faculties, with faculty members recruited from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. (N