Welcome to The AOU Online Hybrid (70/30) University with Study Centers Worldwide!
+234-7065486196, 08131051346, +1 (201) 256-7894
ANIOMA OPEN UNIVERSITY (AOU) Where Passion Meets Education
ANIOMA OPEN UNIVERSITY (AOU) Where Passion Meets Education
About Us (AU)
Genesis and Philosophy (AU-1)
Anioma Open University (AOU) is an institution of higher learning (University) founded in May 2017, and being established by a Group of Nigerians who are currently the Shareholders. The National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja, Nigeria gave a preliminary approval to the Anioma Open University in the NUC Idris Abdulkadir Auditorium on July 26, 2017; and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja, Nigeria approved our Certificate of Incorporation on January 17, 2019. At that point in time, AOU was the first and only Private ODL University in the South-South and South-East of Nigeria to be given a Preliminary Approval by the NUC. The university is an ODL (Open and Distance Learning) one, that is, the so-called “online learning” as opposed to a conventional university.
Mission Statement and Goals (AU-2)
Anioma Open University (AOU) pedagogy and learning are anchored upon Information Age education, that is, “computer-mediated” learning, the so-called “Online Education.” It is the mission of the founder to bring to the forefront a new teaching and learning methodology. With its tenets of "Learning Reborn", AOU is poised to be the best citadel of learning in Sub-Sahara Africa, and beyond, using ODL or Online technologies in furtherance of Information Age education. Anioma Open University (AOU) pedagogy and learning are anchored upon Information Age education, that is, “computer-mediated” learning, the so-called “Online Education.” It is the mission of the founder to bring to the forefront a new teaching and learning methodology. With its tenets of "Learning Reborn", AOU is poised to be the best citadel of learning in Sub-Sahara Africa, and beyond, using ODL or Online technologies in furtherance of Information Age education.
Vision Statement and Objectives (AU-3)
It is the vision of Anioma Open University to globalize the programmes offered from the local community to state, national and international levels. AOU's website would showcase all the study centres of the university. The learning is taken to the learners at the study centres where the students can still interact with their lecturers face-to-face, 30% of the time. With her tenet “Learning Reborn”, AOU students no longer need to go to school, because school comes to them 70% of the time on the Android phones in their hands. Anioma Open University programmes would be open to the public and train all learners without regard to race, sex, national origin, or disabilities.
Programmes of Study (AU-4)
Programmes of Study
1. The programmes of study at Anioma Open University (AOU) proposed to the NUC (National Universities Commission, Abuja, Nigeria) are as follows: a) Faculty of Education, b) Faculty of Sciences, c) Faculty of Health Sciences, d) Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, e) Faculty of Languages, f) Faculty of Law, g) Faculty of Engineering, h) Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, i) Faculty of Technical and Entrepreneurial Studies, j) Faculty of Management Sciences, and k) Faculty of Government and Historical Studies.
2. Anioma Open University shall train learners to earn Bachelor’s degrees, earn Master’s degrees, or earn Doctorate degrees in any programme of study at AOU approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
3. Admission requirements in any of the NUC-approved programme of study at Anioma Open University shall be in keeping with the requirements as approved by the Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria) in conjunction with the National Universities Commission (NUC).
4. The Pedagogy and Learning at AOU shall be ODL (open and distance learning).
5. Both the teaching and learning modes at AOU shall be “hybrid”.
6. The hybrid interaction modes shall be: Student-student interaction; Student-teacher interaction; Student-content interaction; and Student-interface interaction (that is, computer-mediated learning, the so-called “online education” mode).
7. The Anioma Open University (AOU) shall adopt a "70-30" hybrid mode for teaching and learning.
8. The “70-30” hybrid model of ODL education shall consist of 70 percent online and 30 percent face-to-face in the teaching and learning at AOU.
9. All Lecturers and Professors employed at AOU shall be mandated to follow to the teeth the University’s hybrid teaching model (8. above) as adopted by Anioma Open University.
10. The “70-30” hybrid ODL education adopted at Anioma Open University enables the students to interact with their lecturers and fellow students on a face-to-face basis thirty-percent of the time.
11. The remaining 70 percent shall be online interactions, and shall be accomplished via an e-learning software approved by the Anioma Open University management.
12. Currently, the Anioma Open University has approved ZOOM® as one of the e-learning interactive softwares for e-teaching and e-learning at AOU. The other auxiliary Softwares shall be online or e-learning management system (LMS) softwares approved by the NUC and /or meet the NUC's standard. Approved LMS Softwares shall be used by AOU Professors to manage training activities for the students.
Administrative Structure of the University (AU-5)
The Anioma Open University shall be run in accordance with the following Administrative structure:
Functions and Powers
(1) Academic/Faculty/School Boards:
All Academic Boards are constituted by members who are appointed by the University management led by the Vice-Chancellor. Their functions shall be as stipulated in the Bylaws of the University. All school boards report directly to the Vice-Chancellor.
(2) Senate:
The University Senate members shall be appointed by the Governing Council in conjunction with the Vice-Chancellor. The Senate meet and report to the Vice-Chancellor of the University.
(3) Governing Council:
The Governing Council members shall be appointed by the Proprietor in conjunction with the shareholders. The Governing Council reports to the Proprietor and his shareholders.
(4) Chancellor:
The Chancellor of the University shall be appointed by the Proprietor in conjunction with his shareholders. The Chancellor reports directly to the Proprietor.
(5) Proprietor:
The Proprietor of the Anioma Open University is the Founder/Pro-Chancellor/Chairman.
(6) Appointment:
The appointment membership shall be as described in items (1-5). above.
Employment at AOU (AU-6)
Lecturers at AOU
1. Anioma Open University shall only employ Lecturers with an earned PhD or other relevant doctorate degrees.
2. Lecturers currently running their PhD/doctorate programs (in-view) at an accredited university shall be considered for employment at AOU provided NUC does not disapprove it.
3. Full-time and part-time teaching staff shall be considered for employment at AOU provided funding exists and the positions serve the needs and best interests of the Anioma Open University.
Non-teaching Staff at AOU
1. Non-teaching staff shall be employed by AOU depending on the needs of the University.
2. All employment at AOU shall be on a case-by-case basis and/ or on a volume (one-time advertised basis) depending on the needs of the University.
3. Full-time and part-time non-teaching staff shall be considered for employment at AOU provided funding exists and the positions serve the needs and best interests of the Anioma Open University.
University Location and Study Centres (AU-7)
1. Anioma Open University shall operate and function with a Head Office (Headquarters) and Study Centres.
2. Currently, the Anioma Open University Head Office in Nigeria is located at No. 130 Old Lagos-Asaba Road, Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria.
3. Currently, the Anioma Open University has approved Study Centre(s) as follows: 1) Deo-Gratias Polytechnic, Agbor-Obi Junction, Ika South Local Government Area (LGA), Delta State, Nigeria 2) Sports University, Idumuje-Ugboko, Delta State
4.The pedagogy and learning at Anioma Open University shall only take place at the university-approved Study Centres.
5. The University Head office or Headquarters is the administrative office only for Anioma Open University.
6. There shall be no teaching and learning at the University Head Office (Headquarters).
7. The university shall propose to NUC opening of a Study Centre in all the 774 (seven hundred seventy-four) Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.
8. The university shall propose to NUC opening of about ten (10) Study Centres per year.
9. The Anioma Open University Study Centres shall be headed by an experienced educator who must be a Professor or a retired Professor; or minimum, a Lecturer with an earned PhD degree.
10. Study Centres at Anioma Open University shall not be headed by a lecturer with only a Master’s degree.
Students and Staff Accommodation (AU-8)
1. Anioma Open University is strictly an ODL institution and therefore shall not provide accommodation or hostels for its students.
2. Anioma Open University is strictly an ODL institution and therefore shall not provide accommodation or hostels for its Lecturers, non-teaching, or other staff.
Advertorial for Investors (AU-9)
Owing to the recent painful demise of our amiable Pioneer Sponsor/Investor and Daddy, late Chief/Diokpa A.O.U. Okowa, JP+, Pioneer Member, and erstwhile Chairman of the BOARD of TRUSTEES/Director of the PIC Committee of the Anioma Open University (AOU), we the entire members of the Board of Directors and Pioneer Members family, hereby urgently seek a replacement for this Vacancy.
As stipulated in the proposed University's Bylaws, an AOU BOARD OF TRUSTEES (DIRECTOR) Member must be an African, or descendant thereof, adult over 18 years old, with high profile, repute, and personality in society devoid of criminal records, with antecedents as a proponent of ODL, Online education and Education in general, with the wherewithal to invest in and support the Anioma Open University project.
Anioma Open University (AOU) was given a preliminary approval by NUC, National Universities Commission, Abuja, Nígeria in 2017 and obtained a CAC, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja License in 2019, and currently fighting hard in the Conclusion Phase to obtain the final approval (License) from NUC, as one of the First Private Open Universities in Nigeria, so that teaching and learning can commence.
Serious prospective Investors may contact us via the contact information in this website: www.aniomaou.com; e-mail, engrcivlflood@gmail.com; phone number: +234-9061742738 (WhatsApp).
Thank you.
Additional information about the proposed University regarding,
1) BUSINESS ANALYSIS/ SUMMARY DOCUMENTS: How will the University Company make money? (Thanks to the Tony Elumelu Foundation 2022 for their assistance in preparing this document), is provided below.
2) the Profile of the AOU Proprietor can be provided upon request.
Business Summary Document For Investors (AU-10)
THE BUSINESS
SUMMARY
DOCUMENT FOR INVESTORS
COMPANY NAME:
ANIOMA OPEN UNIVERSITY (AOU)
(CAC Registered: RC-1553937, Company Limited by Shares, LLC).
Head Office Address:
No. 130, Old Lagos Asaba Road, Agbor,
Delta State, Nigeria.
Website:
Phone number:
+234-09061742738
NAME: Proprietor
EMAIL: engrcivlflood@gmail.com
CATEGORY: University Education (ODL, Open and Distance Learning)
DATE: May/2022
About My Business
Business idea
I got this business idea while watching a friend of mine doing the same thing in the United States of America several years ago. He was my mentor, an Edo Professor who owned his own Online University in America. Therefore, I developed interest and resolved would have to do what he did to make it to that level of achievement. I enrolled in a post graduate PhD degree program in ODL (Open and Distance Learning) to carefully, thoroughly, and rigorously study the course (e-learning) before turning it into a business venture.
I graduated with my PhD in ODL with flying colors in an American accredited University, and after graduating, I thought there might be more need for my expertise in Africa than America. Therefore, I moved back to my home country Nigeria, and started the business. My expertise is using ICT or CMC technologies to leverage the Internet to train open, distance students, e-learners.
The Problems
There are two problems we are faced with at the moment, at this stage of the Anioma Open University’s Establishment. They are: the immediate problem, and the remote problem.
The immediate problem
1) Pay a Bill Issued to us (AOU) Recently by NUC
The Nigerian Governmental Agency, NUC, National Universities Commission, Abuja, Nígeria wants us to pay a substantial amount of money before approving our ODL (Online) University this year.
The Agency NUC has listed the first ten (10) Private ODL Universities proposed for approval in Nigeria, and Anioma Open University is on the list; in fact, we are number ten on the list. Once we are able to pay this money NUC Staff will come for site visit to approve the University. It is to be noted that currently, NOUN, National Open University of Nigeria, is the only approved Open and Distance Learning University in Nigeria. No Private or State Open and Distance Learning University has been approved in Nigeria. Therefore, we at AOU, Anioma Open University, are fighting hard to be the First one in Nigeria.
2) How will AOU Company make money?
Once we start business, judging by recent research conducted, I expect enrolment the first year to be between fifty thousand (50,000) to one hundred thousand (100,000) e-students, because Registration is online via my website www.aniomaou.com worldwide (unrestricted).Therefore, we are expecting the first year an income of about five billion Naira (₦5,000,000,000) from payments of school fees, and creation of innumerable number of jobs all over Nigeria, and beyond.
3) Why is your solution better than anything else?
My solution is better than anything else, because:
a) AOU utilizes ODL with a hybrid mode (60 -40) e-teaching and e-learning where the e-learners interact with their Lecturers and other classmates face-to-face 40% of the time, while the 60% represents online interaction.
b) Cyber-researchers have proven that the hybrid 60/40 online teaching/learning causes learning more than the conventional face-to-face teaching and learning.
c) The cost of operating a given face-to-face teaching and learning training programme is more than twice the cost of using the ODL e-teaching and e-learning training approach to run the same training programme.
d) I earned a PhD degree in IDOL/ODL ( Open and Distance Learning, e-Learning) from an American University. I have conducted relevant research in the ODL discipline, and have published several books. I recently published: “Open and Distance Learning in Nigeria, Why Online Education Works, E-Learning with ICT”(2017).
4) Who exactly is your customer?
E-Students/e-learners all over the world.
5.) How much is your customer willing to pay?
School fees as required by my institution.
6) How will you reach your customer?
Via our website: www.aniomaou.com, emails, WhatsApp, text messages, social media, public advertisement, signboards, radio and television. In fact, so many prospective students have been calling and contacting us right now that they are seeking admission, pick up the form and start school. As always, we reply that NUC hasn’t given us final approval yet to run the University.
7) Who do you need to help you create this business?
The Business is created already; I paid one million Naira (₦1,000,000) five years ago to NUC for preliminary approval of the University. Now, I urgently need an Investor to help me with the seed money N5m so I can pay the necessary bills to conclude the establishment of the University.
8) What can you do to rapidly help you scale up your business?
I urgently need financial help from a serious Investor.
9) Why will the necessary individuals help you scale up your business?
They will receive in exchange the positions of company Directors and/or Shareholders, Board Chairman, or University Chancellor.
The remote problem
On a larger picture, the problem I am trying to solve is to train face-to-face learners how to learn, graduate, and succeed Online. The literature is replete with research evidence that, when properly administered, computer-mediated-learning (the so called “Online” learning or e-learning) is as good as if not better than the traditional f2f education in causing learning (see my book).
Studies have also shown that conventional face-to-face education costs about twice (50% more) as much as studying the same course or delivering the same program online (e-learning). The e-learner saves the following costs: travels expenses, personal risks such as automobile accidents, health care risks and expenses such as COVID-19 pandemic, higher probability that the brick-and-mortar learner or teacher may not show up for class, and a host of other problematic issues brought about by face-to-face interactions and body language between the teacher and his or her students. Above all, the e-learner saves time face-to-face learners spend travelling back and forth to the training institute.
A good example of e-learning, leveraging off the Internet to train e-learners successfully, saving time and money, without meeting the learners face-to-face was recently exemplified at the TEF (Tony Elumelu Foundation) 2022 African Entrepreneurs Training Programme. I was selected and I participated as one of the e-learners.
There were four Master e-Classes in the 2022 TEF program, with average attendance in each e-class via ZOOM as high as fifteen (15) thousands e-learners all over 54 African countries were all successfully trained synchronously Online. If the same training were conducted face-to-face, astronomical costs of attendance, renting of hall to accommodate all the 15,000 learners at once in the same hall, and costs of traveling all over Africa to meet the trainers at the chosen training site would have been the least of the problems.
The solution to remote problem
There are three-tier solution to the remote problem. The first two are presented first.
To solve the problem, “Face-to-face (f2f) Infrastructure” (FI) and “Internet Infrastructure”(II) must be created. Therefore, I firstly created an ODL (open and distance learning) institution with associated study centres representing “FI”, and, secondly, created a website and currently working on Networking the environment with e-learning software, Learning management system (LMS) with ZOOM® and Tube video conferencing programs representing “II”, Internet infrastructure. The third tier is “Employee Infrastructure” (EI). Therefore, thirdly, I am currently working on employing e-instructors and trainers with degrees in IT, Engineering, mathematics and computer science, and, who concurrently must be ICT and ODL compliant, representing “EI”.
Business Process
Features & Functionalities
My business is a training institution for e-learners. It employs the “60/40” hybrid mode for teaching and learning. In other words, the e-lecturer meets with the e-students in an e-classroom such as ZOOM® 60% of the time, and also meets the students face-to-face at the study centres the remaining 40% of the time.
All the e-Lecturers employed by my ODL University must be IT, ICT, CMC, and ODL compliant. Otherwise, they would be retrained, failure of which could result in termination. The entire institution, including the study centers, will be networked and equipped with modern computer hardware and software, with e-learning software and LMS (learning management system) using ZOOM® and video conferencing programs installed. With knowledgeable and experienced lecturers equipped with modern technologies and ICT-enabled environment, AOU will provide not only the best services to the e-learners, but also with utmost professionalism and world best practices.
Pricing
I have not determined the price of my services yet. When we do, we will consider: amount paid for similar services in Nigerian institution of higher education, especially, those that deliver their programs of study Online.
Profitability & My Target Audience
Profit will come from school fees, income minus – expenditure.
My target audience are students, and has a large customer base. The size of my market in the Nigerian clime is about fifty thousand e-learners (minimum), up to one hundred thousand the first one year. This amounts to about five billion Naira (N5,000,000,000) the first year in school fees. Enrollment is unrestricted, and it’s done online only, via our website, world wide.
Marketing Plan
My University is an ODL one, and our advertisements, mostly online, will be disseminated in a lightening-fast manner, and would go viral over the Internet to our target customers, social media platforms users inclusive. To augment our online advertisements, we would also advertise in national and local newspapers, radio and television.
BUSINESS ANALYSIS
1) SWOT analysis (strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats).
a. Strength
Our strength at AOU is that we are more knowledgeable and educated in ODL than any other ODL universities in Nigeria, including NOUN and other proposed private open universities in Nigeria.
b. Our weakness is that we don't have enough wherewithal to conclude the project with NUC.
c. Our "Opportunities" are that:
• we're expecting serious Investors with the wherewithal to pay NUC bills to join us shortly so that we can commence school.
• our website, www.aniomaou.com, works 24/7/365 non-stop: a good Internet “infrastructure”.
• we have maintained our Head Office, no. 130, Old Lagos Asaba Road, Agbor non-stop for 5 years, since 2017 after preliminary approval by NUC, even though school hasn't started.
• ( Note that elaborate on-ground infrastructure is not required, nor is it necessary for E-Learning success in ODL Universities, as would be absolute requirement for success in face-to-face conventional Universities).
• we are still good to go, as we're in good relationship with NUC; as they're ready to visit us for Final approval if we can pay their bills.
d. Threats. The only "threats" we have right now is lack of Funds. We need Money, lots of it; that is, we need Investors to come in and help me fund the project, so that we can pay the required NUC bills to obtain our Final approval.
2) Your Needs---Resource Requirements
a. What do you need for your business right now?
Answer: Like I said earlier, I urgently need a large scale, serious Investor to join us so I can pay the five million Naira (N5million) to NUC to obtain our final license to start the school.
b. Needed resources:
• equipment
•additional employees
• funding
• befitting Head Office
c. My business Team
• my business Team is made up of our AOU Board Chairman; his Vice-chairman and three (3) other Shareholders who are Members of the BOD. I am still looking for more befitting Board Members, and a CHANCELLOR.
3) My Plans: Business forecasting and planning.
•What stage are you now in your business?
Answer: We are in “Investors stage.”, if you will; this is a University establishment, and I am in the final stage of my business. In fact, The Director of the Directorate for the Establishment of Private Universities in Nigeria at NUC, wrote me (AOU) a letter acknowledging approval package submitted, acceptable payment, and Guidelines for final approval.
4) Lastly, what are the next steps for your Business?
Answer: the following are the Milestones to be accomplished in the next two (2) years,
a. Financial: if approved this year 2023, then we hope to at least realize N5 to N20 Billion Naira next two years in revenue or profit.
b. Operational: Expand branches/study canters to all over the country and beyond; purchase new technology equipment and vehicles upon which is inscribed AOU on both sides of the Vehicles.
c. Customer focused: As earlier explained in sub-section 2, once we start business, I expect enrollment at AOU to be around 50,000 (fifty thousands) to 100,000 thousands (one hundred thousands) e-Students, because Registration is Online at www.aniomaou.com; similar to Registration of e-Students at NOUN, National Open University of Nigeria.
It is to be noted that, while populations of students in conventional Universities in Nigeria hover around 20,000 to 50,000 (fifty thousands) face-to-face students, population of e-Students at NOUN, National Open University of Nigeria, is between 400,000 to 500,000 (five hundred thousands), last count in the year 2022, with seventy-nine (79) Study Centres spread out all over the country.
This is the dream AOU, a proposed Private Open University in Nigeria, is trying hard to achieve. Hope you join us as our New Investor and Member of the AOU BOARD OF TRUSTEES (DIRECTORS) to make this dream a reality.
Thank you for your audience.
THE END
SIGNED
From AOU Proprietor.
Published Books for Sale: Mathematics, Online Education, Computer Science, and Research Textbooks (AU-11)
1. Okonta, O. (2017)
ISBN:978-49546-9-9.
Open and Distance Learning in Nigeria: Why Online Education Works, E-Learning with ICT.(N10k per copy; $1,000).
2. Okonta, O. (2014). ISBN:078-3061-992. HOW TO USE AND REPAIR YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTERS MADE SIMPLE FOR DUMMIES: A Practical Approach, 3rd Edition. (N10k per copy; $1,000).
3. Okonta, O. (2015). ISBN: 979:3061:112. BASIC UNIVERSITY MATHEMATICS, STATISTICS, and RESEARCH METHODS: A Research-Workbook. (N10k per copy; $1,000).
4. Okonta, O. (2010). EFFECTS OF ONLINE INTERACTION VIA COMPUTER- MEDIATED COMMUNICATIONS (CMC) TOOLS ON AN e-MATHEMATICS LEARNING OUTCOME; Published by Pro Quest/UM (dissertation book, N100k per copy; $10,000).
Pay into any of my following bank accounts:
1) UBA Account number: 1025972099 (Naira).
2) UBA Account number: 3003885777 (dollars $)
3) Polaris Bank Account number: 1762905157 (Naira).
4) Polaris Bank Account number: 1767776231 (US$ dollars). 5) Ecobank Account number: 3830010912 (Naira).
After paying, please send your receipt to us by email: engrcivlflood@gmail.com or, via our WhatsApp number: +234-0906174273
2. Schedule a pickup of the book personally, or via DHL.
Pickup address is: 130, Old Lagos-Asaba Road, Agbor, Delta State.
(M thru F, 12noon to 5pm).