THE DIGITAL Bridge Institute (DBI), a Federal Government-owned Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training institute, has entered into a strategic partnership with Miva Open University through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The agreement, aimed at fostering academic excellence in computer science and digital innovation, was formalised at DBI’s headquarters, reinforcing the longstanding relationship between the two institutions.
The MoU was signed by the President and Chief Executive Officer of DBI, Mr. David Daser, and the Vice Chancellor of Miva Open University, Prof. Tayo Arulogun, who represented their respective organisations.
During the signing ceremony, Mr. Daser commended Prof Arulogun and his team for their dedication to elevating academic standards, which he noted was instrumental in facilitating the collaboration.
He emphasised DBI’s commitment to ensuring the successful implementation of the agreement, distinguishing it from partnerships that often remain unimplemented.
“Many MoUs are signed but not executed. However, we are determined to ensure this one stands the test of time. We deeply value this collaboration and believe it will significantly contribute to the advancement of Nigeria’s educational system,” Daser stated.
He assured Miva Open University of DBI’s full support in achieving the partnership’s objectives. He add: “Now that the MoU has been signed, we are ready to hit the ground running. DBI is well-equipped and fully prepared to deliver on this collaboration.”
Highlighting DBI’s extensive infrastructure, Daser noted that the institute’s campuses in Enugu, Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Asaba, and Yola would be effectively utilized to support the partnership.
“In our renewed efforts to enhance the National Innovation Diploma (NID) program at DBI, all our campuses are fully operational. We appreciate the openness and inspiring efforts of your team.
“This collaboration will add value not only to our NID program but also to other DBI initiatives as well as Miva’s academic offerings. We are committed to taking this partnership seriously and achieving far-reaching results,” Daser stressed.
In his remarks, Prof. Arulogun, emphasised the importance of collaboration in Nigeria’s higher education sector. He identified the “do-it-alone syndrome” as a major challenge hindering Nigerian universities, where institutions often operate in isolation rather than leveraging strategic partnerships.
“Many universities prefer to go it alone rather than collaborating with established institutions like DBI. However, the collective resources across Nigerian universities would be more than sufficient if we embraced cooperation,” Arulogun stated as he encouraged other academic institutions to adopt collaborative approaches to optimise capacity and enhance educational outcomes.
“Once this agreement is signed, we will move swiftly into action. We will begin by sending our students to DBI and look forward to admitting DBI’s diploma graduates into our programs. Additionally, joint initiatives such as hackathons will enable us to identify and nurture hidden talents in innovation, which will be mutually beneficial,” Arulogun explained.
Mr. Emeka Nzeih, DBI’s Head of Learning and Development, provided an overview of the partnership, outlining its key objectives, stating that the MoU establishes a collaborative framework to enhance student education through real-world projects, internships, joint research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building initiatives for both students and staff.
The scope of the collaboration includes identifying and facilitating innovative group projects that address contemporary ICT challenges in Nigeria and beyond. These projects will foster problem-solving and teamwork skills while integrating practical solutions into academic curricula. DBI will provide mentorship, while Miva will ensure student participation and academic oversight.
Both institutions will collaborate on cutting-edge research in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and other emerging ICT disciplines.
Mr. Nzeih further disclosed that DBI would grant Miva students and faculty access to its state-of-the-art ICT laboratories, equipment, and software to support learning and research activities.
This partnership marks a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s ICT education landscape, promoting innovation, and fostering sustainable academic growth through strategic institutional collaboration.
