By Anjola Dawodu
Academic City University, Ghana, has strengthened its push into Nigeria’s education landscape with renewed strategic engagements in Lagos and Abuja, positioning itself not just as a higher institution, but as a lifestyle and career-shaping ecosystem for Africa’s next generation of professionals.
At the heart of the discussions, which brought together policymakers, education leaders, industry experts, parents, civil society groups, and prospective students, was a growing shift in how young Africans choose universities—not only for academic prestige, but for employability, innovation culture, and real-world readiness.
The engagements form part of the university’s broader expansion drive across the continent, as it seeks to deepen access to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, and entrepreneurship-focused education beyond Ghana.
Speaking at the Lagos session, Vice President, Academic Affairs at Academic City University, Sena Agbodjah, said the institution is deliberately reshaping the university experience into one that mirrors real-life industry demands and future career lifestyles.
“The institution was established to challenge the traditional model of higher education by embedding innovation, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem-solving into every aspect of learning. We believe Africa’s transformation depends on how well our universities can produce graduates who are not only employable but capable of creating opportunities,” she said.
She added that the university’s engagement in Nigeria is also about understanding how young people live, learn, and aspire in today’s rapidly changing world.
“Our engagement in Nigeria reflects our deliberate effort to build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders who share our vision for educational transformation. We are not just exporting education; we are co-creating solutions for Africa’s future together with our partners,” she noted.
From a lifestyle perspective, stakeholders at the event highlighted a growing demand among Nigerian students and parents for universities that offer more than classroom learning—emphasising exposure, networking, digital skills, and entrepreneurial pathways as key determinants in school selection.
Gladys Mansa Yawa Feddy Akyea, Deputy Head of Mission at the Ghana High Commission in Nigeria, noted that education is increasingly becoming a lifestyle connector between Ghanaian and Nigerian youths, opening up shared opportunities in work, study, and innovation spaces.
