CHANGING MINDS, AFRICA RISING - LETTER FROM THE NUTM PRESIDENT

Dear Colleagues,

At this time in our civilization, the world is cautiously emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic that left economic and social impacts in its wake. The fourth industrial revolution is altering the way we live, changing the face of the workplace, education, and how we relate to one another. All this at a time when insecurity, inequalities, and climate change continue to bring unnerving changes in the global political, economic, and social order.

Many universities face tremendous challenges in Africa because of prolonged neglect. The public university school year in Nigeria for example is commonly only the time between two strikes. Youth unemployment and underemployment are as high as 60% in Nigeria and in South Africa. These facts make African youths question the value of university education - asking whether it is worth the fees and the troubles, and are characteristics of a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) period.

Some have asked me, "Why the president of a new university at a time like this?”. I asked myself a similar question during my decision making to accept this position. I believe that the current systemic shift in the world requires imagination, vision, and progressive leadership to secure a flourishing society. I also believe that African institutions can be built on new paradigms to determine a new course for the next generations. The beckoning of a prosperous future for Africa requires strategic investment in African young talents to harness and propel their creative and entrepreneurial capabilities. Equipping them with the right skills, and mindset, and nurturing their higher purpose, will prepare them to accelerate a renaissance of the continent. There is no better time than now to develop people, especially young people, and the opportunity to unlock this potential is inspiring.

I accepted the invitation of the Governing Board of the Nigerian University of Technology & Management (NUTM) to become the inaugural President of the institution for three key reasons:

1). To contribute to correcting the mismatch in the skillset of graduates from African universities and the current and future needs of the industry to avoid millions of African youths being left behind from 2030.

2). To execute a compelling vision of bringing world-class faculty to Africa to build the next generation of innovative and entrepreneurial leaders, and improve retention of African talents within the continent.

3). Alignment of NUTM’s mission and the Governing Board’s pedigree, with my core values of excellence, integrity, and courage. I am very passionate about NUTM’s raison d’etre of talent development.

I am grateful to the Governing Board of NUTM for bestowing me with their confidence in the invitation to the role. I appreciate the staff, donors, partners, and other stakeholders for the warm welcome accorded to me. I am honored by your trust in me to help in building and shaping the future of NUTM.

NUTM was born from an audacious idea of raising the bar to create a world-class technology and management university in Africa at a time when our continent is being left behind in almost every area of human endeavor. NUTM was not conceived just as a place or a programme, but as a purpose – to take our youths away from chronic underachievement and unleash their talents to unlock Africa’s development sustainably.

As I start in this role, I would like to acknowledge the excellent work of the NUTM team since its inception in 2019. Despite Covid-19 related restrictions, the team has with the support of partners like MasterCard Foundation, MTN Foundation, Jim Ovia Foundation, and many others progressed the University. We will be traveling on the foundations of NUTM’s impressive track record of accomplishments, including the graduation of two cohorts of 117 scholars, many of whom are already making an impact, such as the four former scholars leading myStash startup. They have raised $185,000 to date and connected over 2,000 customers to their solution.

Let me assure you that I will work tirelessly with all stakeholders to advance NUTM’s mission to make a difference. I will do my best to realize our potential by reaching into my diverse background including instituting stakeholder partnership, world-class standards, strategic leadership, and integration. To realize the NUTM vision, my approach will be guided by the African proverb that says, "If you want to go far, go together" and thus my focus will be on People, Partners, and Place.

People

a). Our students will be the center of NUTM’s focus. Equipping them with globally competitive skills and orientation is at the heart of NUTM's vision. We will continue to attract brilliant students, and world-class faculty, and provide leading learning facilities, environment, and opportunities. Thus, enabling our students to excel and become entrepreneurs, and the go-to-pool for high-performing employees.

b). Our alumni will be engaged and integrated to become an active part of our community as ambassadors, contributors, supporters, and critical stakeholders.

c). Our staff will be diverse and will work in an environment that will be inclusive, stimulating, and inspiring, with a culture that enables them to unleash their talents. We will work to ensure NUTM is ranked in the "Top 10 best places to work in Nigeria" within five years and aim for 50 percent female staff and students.

d). Our governing Board will remain the epicenter of strategy formulation and direction. The Board will continue to be proactively engaged for their experience, guidance, and their network.

As Michael Jordan said, “Talent wins games, teams win championships”. NUTM is on track to be a great institution with talented and passionate people working together toward unlocking an inspiring vision. 

Partners

a). We will continue the partnership with the academic regulator (National University Commission) to ensure we secure our accreditation by 2023. We would engage the various technology regulators in Africa to ensure that enabling policies and conducive business environments are created.

b). We will build relationships with financial partners (individuals, corporations, and institutions), focusing on their objectives to be forces for good, build legacies, and develop talents. Our partners have supported us already with an outstanding $5m. Our target of $500m by 2030 is daunting. Still, our goal is to achieve this high point so we can build the requisite infrastructure, attract world-class faculties, and provide scholarships for numerous brilliant students who are unable to afford tuition.

c). We will build strategic relationships with top global universities and businesses at the enterprise level, to ensure that we learn from them, exchange faculties and students, and jointly develop programmes.

As William James said, "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it “. Our partners are already carving their names on our hearts and those of generations to come.

Place

We are a place-based institution with a vision to create cutting-edge campuses. While our temporary facility at Oniru, Lagos has served our initial phase well, the next stage of growth will require NUTM to secure land and develop its own infrastructures. Our goal is to relocate to the primary permanent campus by 2025. This will enable us to grow our student population through undergraduate programmes, whilst building on our scholar and postgraduate programmes. 

Our themed campus will enable us to use online and digital resources to improve our teaching and stimulate learning on a ‘green’ campus. Locating NUTM in Lagos creates specific opportunities because it is the epicenter of the digital revolution in Africa and host of a bursting entrepreneurial population, which aligns with our mission. The serenity, security, and burgeoning industrial ecosystem in our site of interest provide an opportunity to forge strategic partnerships with the industrial community and distinguish NUTM.

Closing

Marian Wright, the founder of the Children Defense Fund said, "Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving the world better than we found it.".

While our mission is clear, our work is still evolving, and how we respond and scale will matter. We would stay true to the best traditions whilst also pioneering new frontiers. We have problems to solve, minds and hearts to change, world-leading faculties to attract, brilliant students to train, research to conduct, and campuses to build. As President, I am confident, that along with the committed Governing Board, the talented team, and our great partners, NUTM will succeed.

I will be embarking on a listening tour and engaging with our stakeholders over the weeks ahead, to hear your stories and understand how we can continue to earn your trust and support. I invite you to always provide us with feedback, suggestions, and ideas, and I assure you that I will always listen and care. NUTM is an important mission as relevant university education is a crucial part of the fabric of modern society.

The future is bright and the race to make NUTM the most impactful STEM University in Africa, known for changing the way African youths think and live, is well on track.

I look forward to the journey with confidence.

Thank you.

Babs. J. Omotowa (Dr)

President and Governing Board Member, NUTM.