Our driving force
To ignite Africa’s potential for prosperity, nurture responsible fearless leaders, and become the leading university in Africa.
To set a new standard of educational distinction for our continent, students and educators, and nurture the next generation of African leaders as guiding lights for positive impact in a rapidly changing world.
The values that guide our choices and inspire our behaviours.
– Be fearless
– Strive for greatness
– Think differently
– Lead through service
– Be engaged
Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe is a visionary. A progressive business leader, philanthropist, and humanitarian, Herbert Wigwe has been an undisputed leader in the economic and social transformation of Nigeria and Africa. Acclaimed as one of Africa’s foremost corporate bankers, Herbert is the co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings PLC, and is credited for moulding Access Bank into the international powerhouse it is today. Herbert embodies the spirit of daring leadership as he continues to revolutionise businesses, lives, and now with Wigwe University, higher education.
Wigwe University is the culmination of his lifelong ambition to build an exceptional, world-class, innovative, yet uniquely African institution to grow the next generation of leaders who will change the face of the African continent. Thus Wigwe University is the African gateway to the world of entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and impact. Herbert’s mission, through the Wigwe university is to change the course of Nigeria’s future through committed and world-class faculty, globally relevant and locally impactful curricula taught through novel methods to rival, the globe’s most respected universities.
His limitless courage, passion, energy, and dedication to excellence are the foundation of our fearless ethos and spirit. Here at Wigwe University, the fearless, like our founder, will make history.
The truth is that the end to the good we can achieve is nowhere in sight. There’s so much more to conquer. There are more lives to impact and generations to uplift to achieve their full potential. History will favour the brave, those who knew their limitations only because they had to defy them. History will favour the fearless.
Dr. Miles K. Davis has a Ph.D. in human and organizational sciences from The George Washington University, an M.A. in human resource development from Bowie State University and a B.A. in communications from Duquesne University. He was the inaugural chair of the Management Science Department at the Harry F. Byrd Jr. School of Business at Shenandoah University and became the founding director of its Institute for Entrepreneurship. Dr. Davis went on to become the dean of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business.
Dr. Davis is an authority on entrepreneurship whose most recent work focuses on integrity, values and principles in the business world, as well as faith-based entrepreneurship. He helps Organisations manage cultural and structural changes, strategic planning, leadership development and strategic growth initiatives. He has written numerous articles on the management of change in Organisations and has several book chapters addressing the issues related to diversity in higher education and challenges to university presidents.
He is a member of the Society of Leadership Fellows at St. George’s House (their first non UK based member), an organization based out of Windsor Castle in England that brings together world leaders in a variety of fields to analyze contemporary issues.
Davis is also the first college president to come out of The PhD Project, a network that helps members of underrepresented communities attain doctorates and become leaders in higher education. Recently, Dr. Davis was voted in as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities. He was also appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). NAICU is the official policy and lobbying arm of non-profit private higher education in the USA. Dr. Davis sits on the board of the Amana Mutual Fund Trust. Dr. Davis is an awardee of numerous bodies. Most recently he was named the “Portland Business Journal President of the Year” (the first university president to be so named).
He was until recently, the President of Linfield University, a private Liberal Arts University, in Portland, Oregon, United States.
Dr. Nelson Uzoechi-Uzoma Alino is a distinguished academic and professional with a remarkable career in accounting and taxation. Dr. Alino began his career in Nigeria, working in the public accounting sector with Akintola Williams Deloitte, the oldest indigenous accounting firm in the country. He then transitioned to the banking and financial services sector, quickly rising to a middle management position at United Bank for Africa. In pursuit of further opportunities, he moved to the United States under the US Diversity VISA Lottery Program.
In the US, Dr. Alino joined Blue Cross Blue Shield (Palmetto GBA) in the healthcare administration and audit division. His leadership skills shone as he led audits of numerous hospital and healthcare services groups across the country under the United States Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services audit programs. Concurrently, he founded his own highly successful financial and forensic accounting consulting services firm, NAL Financial Services LLC, where he has provided valuable guidance to small and medium-sized businesses and their owners in managing and growing their wealth.
Passionate about education, Dr. Alino received his Doctor of Philosophy in Accounting from the University of South Carolina, USA and embarked on an academic career at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, USA where he held the prestigious William S. Perlroth Professorship in Accounting and Taxation. In addition to his role as a professor, he served as the founding director of the MSA program and department chair at Quinnipiac University. Notably, he also took on the responsibility of Interim Associate Dean for the School of Business.
Dr. Alino’s leadership and collaborative approach have led to numerous successful projects at Quinnipiac University. Under his guidance, the accounting program achieved the prestigious separate accounting accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a distinction held by less than 5% of accounting programs worldwide. His strategic vision and entrepreneurial mindset have been instrumental in shaping the growth and success of the department and the college.
Throughout his career, Dr. Alino has published several academic and practitioner journal articles, focusing on behavioural accounting issues, conflict resolution, and international tax and trade matters. His research contributions have earned him recognition through research awards and invitations to present his work at peer-reviewed conferences.
As an educator, Dr. Alino believes in the power of education to transform lives and empower students to reach their full potential. His philosophy on mentorship and student success centres on providing guidance, support, and encouragement to help students develop their skills and pursue their goals. Dr. Alino values a student-centred approach, while ensuring that innovation is at the core of all processes. He also believes in fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment. He has received several nominations for excellence in teaching award at Quinnipiac University.
Prof. Haris Doumanidis, our DVC Academics and Dean of the College of Engineering, is an established scholar and academic leader, whose multifaceted career promises to inspire and shape the next generation of Nigerian, African and global leaders.
Prof. Doumanidis earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), his MS from Northwestern University, and his Diploma from the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. His extensive teaching experience spans renowned institutions globally, including Tufts University, University of Cyprus, MIT, University of Nevada Reno, Khalifa University and many more. He has also been distinguished in academic administration as Vice Provost for Research at Nazarbayev University, Founding Dean and Distinguished Professor at Vin University, and recently as Deputy Provost at the University College Dublin/BRACU Vice President Research.
As the founding Director of the Nanomanufacturing Program at the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the EU Research Executive Agency, he played a pivotal role in advancing world-leading research in Nanotechnology. He also led the Digital Underground Technology Roadmap of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the oil/gas and mineral industry, along the Telehealth Intelligence and Technology Initiative of BRAC. Beyond academia, Dr. Doumanidis has left his significant mark in industry R&D at Axcelis Technologies, Honda Research Institute etc. His diverse consultancy portfolio in automation, optoelectronics, biomedical, aviation and automotive industries showcases his multidisciplinary expertise.
Prof. Doumanidis has been decorated as a Presidential Faculty Fellow of the White House by former US President William J. Clinton; as a Marie Curie Chair of Excellence by the European Union; and as a NSF Young Investigator. In addition to these achievements, the DVC Academics has mentored a remarkable cohort of students, guiding ten Doctoral and thirty-six Masters candidates who have earned accolades, including four Best Paper Awards and the establishment of seven start-up companies. His influence extends globally as he continues to mentor young innovators in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia.
With his legacy of leadership, scholarship and innovation, our new DVC Academics is set to elevate Wigwe University’s Academic structure to unprecedented heights, offering an exciting and enriching academic experience for all prospective students. According to him, being fearless is all in the mindset; in the words of Nelson Mandela, “I never lose: I either win, or I learn.” His style of leadership will help cultivate fearless leaders who are willing to take on risks with a victorious mindset, not afraid of failure but driven by the passion to learn and change the world.
Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi is a highly accomplished and innovative leader in the field of Computer Sciences and Engineering. He holds a notable array of qualifications, including a BSc, MSc, and a PhD from one of top ranked university in the Uk, along with some prestigious accreditations such as CEng, CITP, FBCS, FIAP and SIEEE. With a rich background in academia, he has successfully revitalized institutions, driving positive change and positioning them as dynamic hubs of education and research. Some of his notable achievements include the transformation of the School of Engineering & Technology at De Montfort University in the UK, expansion of academic programs at Arab Open University (AOU) HQ in Kuwait across nine countries in the MENA region and strategic research growth at the American University in the Emirates (AUE) in Dubai.
Under Professor Dr. Al-Akaidi’s leadership as Head of the School of Engineering & Technology, the Creative Technology at De Montfort University UK was established in partnership with the BBC, which helped to position DMU at the forefront of media production technology education and research. He also launched two international journals at AOU, and chief editor of 7 international journals, founded the Blockchain Centre at AUE. These significant projects enhanced the academic offerings and fostered partnership with industry leaders such as Rolls Royce, BT, France Telcom, Toyota, Nokia etc. Professor Dr. Al-Akaidi’s commitment to global collaboration is evident through the establishment of over 50 international partnerships and the inauguration of new university brands and centres across diverse geographies. He also led the expansion of AOU’s influence across the MENA region.
Beyond teaching, Dr. Al-Akaidi is recognized for his passion for mentoring his students and instilling in them leadership qualities. He successfully led projects, including the Student Retention Enhancement Project at AOU, where student retention rates spiked from 55% to 95%, all within three years. His philosophy on mentorship emphasizes the need to guide students, foster in them a curious spirit and empowering them for success beyond the classroom. Further he pioneered the Blended, Online and e-Learning in the MENA and introduced the MOOCs in collaboration with Open University – UK.
His teaching methods focus on integrating innovation through emerging technologies, interactive tools and real-world applications, thereby promoting critical thinking and adaptability. In addition to his administrative and strategic accomplishments, Professor Dr. Al-Akaidi’s impact is felt through his supervising over 45 PhD and over 100 MSc students who have gone on to excel in their various careers around the world.
Wigwe University is happy to have him as a transformative leader, whose wealth of knowledge and years of experience is sure to ignite a burning desire for success in our students as they embark on a life-changing journey that will take them from academic scholars to fearless leaders of tomorrow.
Before joining Wigwe University, Ulonna O. Inyama was Chief Personnel Officer and Head of Strategic Communications/Special duties in the Office of the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission.
Her career in the National Universities Commission spans almost two decades. She served two successive Executive Secretaries/CEO Special Assistant also honed her skills in university regulation and administration in other directorates of the Commission, including the Directorates of Quality Assurance and Academic Planning. In her time at the Commission, she served in several projects, varied policy and strategic committees, working groups and communities of practice within the Nigerian University system.
A bilingual administrator, Ulonna holds a First-Class honours degree in French and a Masters Degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham, specializing in Governance, Conflict, and social reconstruction. She joins us with a wealth of experience and knowledge about key issues and challenges in Nigeria’s higher education space and also current trends in the global and African higher education ecosystem, and policy directions in the ecosystem.
Discover the exceptional leaders and experts who lend their insights and experience to shape the strategic direction of our university. Our Board of Trustees is composed of accomplished individuals from diverse fields, committed to advancing education and fostering a bright future for our institution.
Professor Fabian Ajogwu is a SAN and the Founding Partner of Kenna Partners. He chairs the Novare Group in Nigeria (owners of Novare malls), ARM Harith Infrastructure Ltd and NES Global amongst others as an Independent Non-Executive. He is a Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and an Independent Non-Executive Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc.
He has well over two decades of law practice experience in the field of Foreign Direct Investments and Corporate Restructuring in the Financial Services Sector, and Natural Resources Sector; including Litigation and Arbitration in related fields. An alumnus of the Said Business School of Oxford University and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School in Nigeria where he lectures and has taught courses on Business Law and Negotiations over the past 15 years. He is an accomplished writer, he hails from Enugu state, Nigeria. He serves on the board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration as its Vice-President
He is a member of the General Council of the Bar, and the Council of Legal Education (Nigerian Law School). He also served as a member of the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University up until 2018. A recipient of Hon. Justice Kayode Eso Award for Excellence, Nigerian Institute of Arbitrators. A Fellow, African Leadership Initiative West Africa, Henry Crown Global Leadership Fellowship, Aspen Institute Fellow, Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria, Fellow, Center for Commercial Law Development, Nigeria, Fellow, Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria. Member of the London Court of International Arbitration, London, Legal Research Society, School of Law, University of Aberdeen and member of the Council of Legal Education.
Dr Awosika is the Former Chairman of Access Bank Plc. Prior to this appointment, she was Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministries of Internal Affairs, Science & Technology and Power at different periods. She retired meritoriously from the civil service in 2012. She is an accomplished administrator with over three decades experience in public sector governance. She currently serves as the chairman of the board of Chams Plc and Josephine Consulting Limited.
She is an evidence-based administrator, pharmacist, and bureaucrat. She hails from Delta state in Nigeria. A former Chief Executive of the National Programme on Immunization. Dr. Awosika is highly regarded as the HERO’ of Polio Eradication in Nigeria In recognition of her outstanding services to the nation she was conferred a national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).
She is a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacy. Fellow, National Institute of Directors; Member, Great Britain Clinical Pharmacists Forum. She is an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). She holds a Doctorate degree in Pharmaceutical Technology from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom.
Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga former chairman of Access Bank Plc, is the Principal Consultant/Programme Director of The KRC Limited. She served on the Board of Asset and Resource Management Company and previously chaired the Equipment and Leasing Association of Nigeria. She has over 20 years of diverse experience in the financial industry and her wealth spans across Risk Management, Corporate and Commercial Banking, Investment Banking, Transaction Services and Settlement
A leader per excellence and an accomplished professional, she halls from ljebu-Ode, a town in Ogun State. Her life holds attention, mostly because of her unparalleled exploits in the finance sector and her steady rise on the corporate ladder in an industry dominated by men. She is an alumni of the Harvard Business School, Kellogg School of Management, Columbia Business School all in the United States, as well as International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland and INSEAD in France.
She is a member of some local professional bodies: Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. She graduated from University of Ibadan with a BSc Economics.
Tokini Peterside-Schwebig is a Nigerian entrepreneur and business woman. She created ART X Lagos, the first international art fair in West Africa. She is dedicated to defining a new narrative about Africa through culture. After working extensively with brands in fashion and luxury, including the LVMH Group, she founded ART X, the cultural management company behind platforms such as ART X Lagos -the leading international art fair in West Africa and now a cornerstone of the African art sector, ART X Live! which has acted as a catalyst for the local art scene since 2016, a dynamic accelerator for rising musicians and artists; and the ART X Prize – Nigeria’s foremost art award. The fair held its sixth edition this year, both physically and online, with galleries from the continent and abroad.
A keen art collector and patron. She also currently serves on the boards of organisations such as Yinka Shonibare’s GAS Foundation and EMOWAA (the Edo Museum of West African Art) among others. She was named to the 40 Under 40 in Africa by Apollo in 2020, the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company in 2019, and the Quartz Africa Innovators list of the continent’s Top 30 pioneers in 2018.
Her work has been featured in the Financial Times, CNN, the New York Times, Le Monde and Vogue, among others. She holds a First-Class honours degree in Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an MBA from INSEAD, she lives between Lagos and Paris. Tokini hails from Rivers State.
Dr Kenneth Ken-Worgu is the chairman and founder of Nortonel Group of Companies. He is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Access Investors Service Nominees Ltd. Prior to this appointment, He has served as the Head of Operations at Oil and Industrial Services Limited, where he oversaw the new build of two offshores DLB barges and three support AHT vessels in China, developed a healthy opportunity backlog and improved customer satisfaction ratings.
He has over 20 years of comprehensive experience in the Oil and Gas sector with massive and enviable exposure in operations, sales and marketing. A leader per excellence with brilliant interpersonal relation skills. He hails from River State, Nigeria.
He has a passion for commerce, business and commercial activities in Africa. Dr Kenneth holds a Doctorate Degree in Petroleum Engineer from Texas A&M University, Master Degree in Management, a Graduate Certificate in Business, Harvard University, an M.sc in Petroleum and Mining engineering. The Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor in science in Mechanical Engineer, Drexel University. He is a member of several professional engineering societies including the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Olumide Soyombo is the founder of LeadPath, a seed capital investment fund dedicated to local tech startups, he focuses on powering revolutionary innovations and ideas in Africa by bridging the gap between the start-up stage and market dominance through funding and structure support. He is also a Co-Founder at Bluechip Technologies where he leads strategy, implementation and projects as he works to build the company into a tech industry leader.
His close to 2 decades of multi-sectoral experience building and managing businesses while investing in both high impact projects and startups. His work is an offshoot of his understanding of the astronomical ecosystem impact inherent in strategic partnerships between tech innovators, technological entrepreneurship and private capital. A leading voice and valuable player in the African Technology and Startup space, he hails from Ogun state, Nigeria and sits on board of organizations. He holds a master degree in Business and information Technology from Aston Business school, England, a Bachelor degree in System Engineering from University of Lagos, Nigeria. As a result of his high scholastic achievement, he is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma society. Olumide is an angel investor and investor educator who believes in the potentials of African technological innovation. He has invested in many of the leading tech startups in Nigeria including Paystack (exited), Piggyvest, Power cube, PushCV, Mono, Trove and over 20 others. He continues to pursue excellence and strategic impact even as he inspires same in others and this can be clearly seen with the launch of Voltron Capital, a Pan-African VC firm.
Uche Wigwe is the Managing partner of Wigwe and Partners, a firm established with a mandate to deliver top-notch legal advocacy and advisory services with international best practices and standards. Prior to the establishment of this firm, he co-founded a law practice; Akanbi & Wigwe Legal Practitioners, whose services attracted an impressive local and international clientele.
A well-seasoned professional with an eclectic mix of local and international experience garnered over twenty (20) years. His wealth spans across Corporate & Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation, Business Formation, Insolvency Practice, Construction Contracts, Conveyances and Corporate Finance/Private Equity.
A brilliant tactician and ethical advisor, he hails from River state, Nigeria. He serves as an active member of the board of directors of Coronation Capital Limited, Trium network Limited and Eko Development Company Limited. He holds a Master degree in Petroleum law and Policy from University of Dundee, Scotland, Legum Baccalaureus (LL.B.) from University of Ibadan and B.sc Banking and Finance, University of Port Harcourt (Nigeria). A dedicated legal practitioner and industry player, He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN)
Dr. Varendh Mansson is a Swedish entrepreneur and academic with a strong passion for Africa. Dr. Varendh Mansson is a postdoctoral fellow at the Wharton School of Business. She holds her PhD from Oxford University (2022) in Organizational Theory; while working toward her PhD, she spent one year as a PhD candidate at the Wharton School and another as a PhD candidate at the Harvard Business School. Her PhD dissertation investigated the relationship between technology and social enterprises’ hybrid business structures, emprically addressing mobile technology’s impact on microfinance organisations’ dual missions in Africa. She holds an MBA (with distinction) from Oxford University (2016) and was elected by her class to be the graduation speaker at the Oxford Union. Dr. Varendh Mansson graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in economics / mathematics (GPA of 4.00) from Columbia University (2014). She has published through the Brookings Institution, spoken at several major academic and non-academic conferences, and served as a tutor in entrepreneurship at Oxford University’s Creation Destruction Lab, CDL (2022- 2024).
Dr. Varendh Mansson is the founder and CEO of TalentUp Africa, TUA. TUA’s mission is to amplify global employment opportunities and the quality of life for African tech professionals, seamlessly connecting them with employers internationally: TUA links, expands, and enlarges the reach of the African tech world. The company has raised two rounds of investment funding (March 2020, June 2023) from prominent Swedish, Nigerian, and U.S. investors. It currently has a database of over 17,000 African talent, over 10,000+ social media followers, and a team based in Nigeria. Dr. Varendh Mansson is a Fellow in World Economic Forum’s Council on Responsible Financial Systems, has worked as an intern at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in New York, and as Head of Talent Acquisition at the fashion retailer H&M in New York. In 2013 she launched her first start-up GatewayScandinavia, the start-up gained favorable attention from Sweden’s largest business newspapers, and in January 2013 Dr. Varendh Mansson was honored by placement on Sweden’s super-talent list.
Green, sustainable, modern, state-of-the-art learning and collaborative spaces where ideas can take root and flourish.
We are located in Isiokpo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Our purpose setting and sustainability goals have combined to guide us to build a campus that evokes the heritage of Port-Harcourt as the garden city. Wigwe University mixes the host state’s natural endowments with sustainable design principles to create an exciting harmony between our campus and its natural environment.
Port Harcourt’s tropical rainforest and indigenous plant species, lost through previous agricultural practices, are actively being reintroduced, whilst stormwater attenuation, vegetation and fauna conservation direct our landscaping. Pedestrian, cyclist and electric people-mover campus routes, along with forest walking/jogging/cycling trails, connect students to our surrounding environment, encouraging a lifelong love of nature.
Our Core Value
Sustainability directs and underpins our university’s outlook. We are aligned and measure ourselves against the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Circles of Sustainability tenets for urban development which include:
Principle 1
Development and sustainability must be pursued as goals of equal importance.
Principle 2
All environmental impact must be satisfactorily mitigated and/or offset to every practicable extent.
Principle 3
Sustainability goals are more readily achieved alongside poverty reduction, “real” human development, social inclusion and multistakeholder partnerships.
Principle 4
Our staff and students are key partners in the implementation of our plan and must be educated, equipped, and confident to play their roles.
Principle 5
Monitoring, reporting, learning, and improving are critical to achieving our sustainability goals and targets.
Principle 6
Our commitment to sustainability will be reflected in our overall governance structure.
Policy, Laws, Standards and Best Pratice
Self Sustenance
Pollution Control, Conservation, Resoruce Efficiency
Social Protection and Inclusion
Gender Equality
Sustainable Development Education
Partnerships
Monitoring Reporting and Governance