Nigeria's first online university Gossy Ukanwoke Is The Founder Of The First Online University In Nigeria
None that I can see, but it's common for universities in other countries that have American-style curricula to use that in their name to make that clear. Anyway, I'm pretty sure you can take online courses through the National Open University of Nigeria, which was founded in 1983, so I'm not sure how new this really is there, but that's another matter.
In my mind (not to be confused with reality) it is the distinction between the American (Liberal Arts) style vs. the British Commonwealth (focused) style. Maybe.
I looked at their website, and besides having almost zero information about the programs offered, delivery method, etc., they state that they're in the process of building the university. No problem in and of itself, but when I went to their hiring page, they said that all applications had to be submitted by a certain date in 2015. Granted, a new university is not an overnight undertaking, but 2+ years have passed, with no real tangible progress.
What is Beni American University's current legal status in Nigeria? I didn't see it on the National Universities Commission's (NUC) list of private universities in Nigeria. https://nuc.edu.ng/nigerian-univerisities/private-univeristies/ What appears to be the university's website calls it "proposed Beni American University" even though it is apparently taking applications. (When I clicked on that link, it led to an admissions waiting list.) https://bau.edu.ng I was pleased to see that it only proposes to offer a small number of bachelors degrees, not the almost-inevitable doctorates in every subject so common with internet-universities. (In Nigeria post-graduate degree programs require special approval from NUC.) Again, I'm pleased to see that this thing isn't ignoring that particular rule and that it seems to be awaiting the proper approvals before formally enrolling students in the bachelors programs. It seems to be trying to do things the right way. Here's more on establishing new private universities in Nigeria http://nuc.edu.ng/project/scopu/
Yes, that makes sense. But I wouldn't call focused degrees 'British Commonwealth style'. There are many other countries with such degrees, like almost all EU countries, for instance. The Liberal Arts may be of European origin, but very most European universities no longer offer such degrees. (In some cases, like Austria and Germany, since the 19th century!) A few schools, however, try to 're-import' the Liberal Arts concept to Europe. I have no idea about Nigerian law, but maybe that's a legal requirement. Here in Germany, for instance, a new university has to call itself 'Universität in Gründung' (meaning 'in formation') until it has provisional institutional accreditation. I agree. It seems that school is on the right path.
There is no shortage of articles on this school. The founder has been called "Nigeria's Mark Zuckerberg." From one of them, here: Beni American University – Gossy Ukanwoke’s Big Dreams For Higher Education In Africa | TechCabal "But Why Beni American University? He explained that the university is referred to as American because it is built around the American curriculum and semesters." Um -- Okay... I guess Steve was right. J.
