NUC Approves New Online University – Admission Details Expected Soon

The National Universities Commission, NUC, has granted provisional approval to a United States-based online higher education institution, Brigham Young University-Pathway Worldwide, to operate in Nigeria.

The President of BYU-Pathway Worldwide, Brian Ashton, disclosed this to Tribune Online during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Saturday.

Ashton said the approval followed six years of engagement with the NUC, adding that the institution was committed to expanding access to quality university education for young Nigerians through a flexible online learning model.

“We are grateful to the NUC for recognising BYU. It has been six years in the process. We are grateful to work with everyone in the NUC and they have been very supportive. We hope to serve the people of Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, the institution currently runs eight bachelor’s degree programmes. Six of the programmes, he stated, received direct approval from the NUC, while the remaining two are accredited through partner institutions.

Also speaking, Elder Christian Chigbundu of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns and operates BYU-Pathway Worldwide, described the NUC licence as a major opportunity for Nigerian youths irrespective of religious affiliation.

Chigbundu noted that beyond academics, the institution integrates life skills and leadership training into its curriculum to prepare students for the workplace.

On affordability, Elder Victor Ukorebi said a student could complete a bachelor’s degree programme for about N420,000, explaining that the fee structure was deliberately kept low to prioritise access over profit.

“I can assure you that the quality of education being offered is comparable to what anyone can obtain globally. It may not be a conventional university, but it provides quality American education without leaving Nigeria,” Ukorebi added.

Speaking earlier during a devotional, Chigbundu disclosed that BYU-Pathway Worldwide currently serves about 27,000 students across the Africa West Area, with Nigerians making up roughly 20,000 of that number.

He added that thousands of students in the region have completed certificate programmes, while over 1,000 have earned associate degrees and more than 400 have graduated with bachelor’s degrees.