Miva, O2 Academy Partner to Boost Students’ Industry Skills

Miva, O2 Academy Partner to Boost Students’ Industry Skills

ABUJA — Miva Open University has partnered with O2 Academy Nigeria to provide Mass Communication students with professional certifications, practical training and industry exposure aimed at enhancing their employability and workplace readiness.

The partnership, announced in Abuja, is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practice by exposing students to contemporary workplace demands and practical experiences in the media, advertising and communications sectors.

Under the collaboration, students of the Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies will have access to professional certification programmes, workshops, masterclasses, guest lectures, mentorship and career coaching sessions, as well as conferences and industry networking opportunities.

The initiative will also explore opportunities for internships, project-based learning and continuous professional development, providing students with greater exposure to workplace practices.

Commenting on the partnership, the Programmes Coordinator, Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies, Miva Open University, Dr. Funmi Shodipe, said the collaboration was part of the university’s commitment to equipping students with both academic knowledge and practical skills.

She said, “This partnership reflects Miva’s commitment to ensuring that students are equipped with strong academic foundations, alongside the practical skills and professional exposure required to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.”

Shodipe added that the partnership would enable students to connect classroom learning with workplace realities while gaining access to professional certifications, industry practitioners and practical learning opportunities.

“At Miva, we recognise that preparing students for the future requires connecting what they learn in the classroom with the realities of the workplace.

“This partnership with O2 Academy gives our Mass Communication students access to professional certifications, industry practitioners and practical learning opportunities that complement their academic experience and help them build the skills, confidence and industry awareness needed to advance in their careers,” she said.

Also speaking, Provost of O2 Academy, Ozoemena Mbanefo, described the partnership as an opportunity to place practical and industry-relevant learning at the centre of students’ educational experience.

Mbanefo said combining academic learning with professional certifications, expert-led sessions and practical exposure would help students develop relevant skills and prepare them for the demands of the workplace.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Miva Open University on an initiative that places practical, industry-relevant learning at the heart of student experience,” she said.

According to her, the academy looked forward to equipping students with skills and experiences that would support their professional development beyond the university.

The partnership comes against the backdrop of growing demand from employers for graduates who possess not only academic qualifications but also practical capabilities, digital skills, creativity, adaptability and knowledge of contemporary industry practices.

Miva Open University, established in 2023 by the uLesson Group under the leadership of Sim Shagaya, is a licensed private open university in Nigeria offering technology-enabled and flexible higher education.

Its academic programmes cover areas including computing, management, health sciences, social sciences and education, alongside professional courses for continuous learning.

O2 Academy Nigeria, with campuses in Lagos and Abuja, is an advertising and brand communications school offering industry-focused training in areas such as brand strategy and account planning, content and copywriting, art direction, digital marketing and filmmaking.

The two institutions said the collaboration would further strengthen the link between higher education and workplace expectations while creating additional opportunities for students to gain practical experience and develop career-ready competencies.