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| A-Global American Open University |
In the High School Area of Ogbomoso, an ancient Yoruba town in Oyo State long known for its trading heritage, agricultural strengths in cashew, mango, cassava and yam, and as home to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), a new institutional presence is taking shape. On Saturday, October 10, 2026, the American Open University (A-Global) formally inaugurated its first community Skill and Liaison Centre under the theme “Repositioning Ogbomoso for the Global Economy.”
The opening marks more than a local expansion for a young private university; it represents a deliberate effort to connect a historic community with flexible, technology-focused higher education and professional skills at a time when automation and digital platforms are reshaping work across Nigeria and beyond.
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The centre will function as a practical hub: a place for information and admission inquiries, ongoing learner support, and technology skills training available to residents of Ogbomoso and neighbouring communities. It is the university’s first such community-based facility, extending reach beyond its Global Campus in Ibadan, Oyo State, and its Metro Campus in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Headquartered in Abeokuta, A-Global delivers programmes through online, on-campus and hybrid (HyFlex) modes, emphasising competency-based learning rather than purely traditional examination-driven models.
Royal Endorsement and Alignment with Local Vision
The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, was represented at the inauguration by the Abese of Ogbomosoland, High Chief Kasali Oladipupo, who performed the symbolic tape-cutting. Oladipupo linked the centre directly to the monarch’s 25-year development agenda, which prioritises education and economic growth among seven focus areas. Since ascending the throne, the Soun has driven renewed attention to these priorities, including education summits and efforts to integrate young people into broader economic opportunities. At a recent Ogbomoso Education Summit, the monarch emphasised strengthening youth participation in the global economy; the A-Global centre was presented as a concrete expression of that commitment.
This royal backing is significant in a community where traditional institutions continue to shape development priorities. Ogbomoso’s population, trading culture, agricultural base, favourable climate and existing educational institutions were cited by speakers as natural advantages for deeper engagement with the digital economy. The presence of LAUTECH already anchors technology and engineering education in the town; the new centre aims to complement rather than compete, offering flexible pathways particularly suited to working adults, school leavers seeking practical skills, and those who prefer blended learning.
Keynote Perspective: Technology as Lever for Local Ambition
Professor Adeolu Afolabi of the Department of Cybersecurity at LAUTECH delivered the keynote address. He described the centre as a timely development capable of advancing Ogbomoso’s educational and technological goals, consistent with the Soun’s Education Development Plan.
Afolabi argued that leveraging technology and global opportunities could improve access to tertiary education while building skills relevant to both local needs and international markets.
Collaboration between institutions, he suggested, would strengthen the community’s capacity to respond to shifting economic demands.
His remarks sit against a wider Nigerian backdrop. Rapid technological change, automation, social media, e-commerce and mobile applications are transforming employment. Many traditional jobs face disruption, while demand grows for advanced technical skills, adaptability and digital fluency.
Universities across the country continue to grapple with the gap between academic credentials and workplace requirements. A-Global positions itself explicitly in this space.
The University’s Journey and Educational Model
Chancellor and founder Professor David Seyi Akanbi traced the institution’s path: a vision pursued for roughly eleven years that secured a provisional operating licence from the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2025 (specifically August 13, 2025, according to anniversary reporting). Within its first year, the university expanded to 21 programmes across undergraduate, master’s and professional certificate levels, secured NUC approval for three AI-integrated postgraduate programmes (MBA, Master of Information Technology and Master of Public Administration), and conducted free AI-powered software development bootcamps in multiple cities, including Ogbomoso.
Akanbi framed the Ogbomoso centre as both a community contact point and a skills training venue. “This is the reason American Open University exists,” he stated. “Our mission is to develop an employable, competitive and globally relevant workforce for the digital economy.” The university works with industry partners (including references to Microsoft, Google and Cisco in institutional materials) and stresses applied learning, competency assessment and professional development. Its proprietary EDGE framework—Educate, Develop, Grow, Empower—guides curriculum design and delivery.
Undergraduate programmes include Data Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Entrepreneurship and Business Information Technology. Postgraduate offerings centre on the MBA, MIT and MPA, with specialisations that integrate artificial intelligence, digital governance and related fields. Through The EDGE Institute, the university also runs professional certificates in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, eLearning Development, Artificial Intelligence Development and Deployment, and Agile Project Management.
Scholarships Designed to Lower Barriers
A central feature of the Ogbomoso launch is the targeted scholarship scheme. Residents admitted to undergraduate programmes can access a 75 per cent tuition reduction; postgraduate applicants may receive a 60 per cent reduction. Candidates first apply through the standard admission process.
Once admitted, they apply for the scholarship, which is then reflected in their student portal. The arrangement is intended to make programmes more accessible without altering the admissions pathway itself.
This local scheme builds on the university’s broader SKILL Scholarship (Scholarships for Knowledge, Innovation, Leadership and Learning), which evaluates applicants on financial need, technical knowledge, innovation portfolios, leadership potential and evidence of self-directed learning rather than grades alone. Earlier free AI bootcamps in Ogbomoso and other cities already produced pathways to full scholarships for standout participants. Some reports also note related opportunities linked to the American College of Technology, though the primary focus of the October event remained the university centre and its tuition reductions.
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Broader Context and Potential Impact
Ogbomoso’s engagement with open and flexible learning is not isolated. Parallel efforts, including steps toward a National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study centre, reflect growing recognition that conventional campus models alone cannot meet demand or serve working populations effectively. The A-Global initiative adds a private, competency-oriented, technology-intensive option with explicit community roots.
For residents, the practical value lies in proximity: easier access to information, support services and skills training without the full cost or disruption of relocating to larger cities. For the university, the centre tests a model of community embedding that could be replicated elsewhere. For the town, success will depend on uptake, quality of delivery, sustained industry linkages, and measurable outcomes in employability and local economic participation.
Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand, yet skills shortages and uneven access to relevant education persist. Initiatives that combine flexible delivery, significant tuition support and local presence address real constraints. Whether A-Global’s Ogbomoso centre becomes a lasting catalyst will be measured in the years ahead by the number of residents who enrol, complete programmes, and translate new competencies into work, enterprise or further opportunity. The inauguration, backed by traditional leadership and framed around global economic readiness, signals a clear intent to move in that direction.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Politics and Technology.
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