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ICT Will Drive New Gboleru University in Ikirun
Information and Communication Technology will drive the new university that will soon commence operations in Ikirun, Ifelodun local government area of Isun State.
Prince Tajudeen Adesegun Gboleru
The new university, Gboleru University, will serve three particular functions: to prepare student for decent and qualitative employment, to achieve personal growth, and to contribute to improvement in society.
To this effect, over $100 million has been earmarked as initial investment to acquire state of the art technologies and other infrastructure for the project.
Already, over 150 hectares of land has been acquired along Gboleru Estate, Eko Ende Road in Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State.
Other necessary regulatory approvals are being processed to ensure a smooth take off of the university.
Arrangemenits are also in place for the new university to partner with All Saints University College of Medicine, Canada. With its alumni located across the globe, practicing as doctors, or in the fields of healthcare, research and academics, All Saints University strive to foster an environment where students feel supported academically, socially and emotionally.
According to Prince Tajudeen Adesegun Gboleru, founder of the university and chief executive officer of SDA Gboleru and Company Limited, the university will.place premium on teaching students to acquire practical experience that is required in workplace environment.
“It is time universities start teaching students in ways that more resemble the actual workplace,” he said.
The effort, according to him, will complement the efforts of the current state government led by Governor Gboyega Oyetola to ensure availability of qualitative and affordable education to all the sons and daughters of Osun State. Gboleru University will be made affordable through offering of scholarship to deserving grassroot students.
Prince Gboleru said the new university will be an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees specifically : one made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor’s degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master’s degrees and doctorates.
He said the decision to establish this institution in Ikirun is because universities are key to the national innovation agenda, and share an obligation to be at the forefront of contemporary policies and society.
“This is why we are focused on producing quality, accessible research through highly cited and esteemed researchers.
“We will grow our innovation ecosystem and pursue the uptake of disruptive technologies that deliver positive economic impacts,” he said.
According to him, having garnered enough international experience and exposure to education, “I believe that, implicitly or explicitly, for students and teachers alike university education is still viewed as mainly about the transmission of facts, and about assessments to ensure those facts have been learned.
“There are two major flaws with this model. The first is that in most workplaces, teamwork, collaboration and outputs that are important for the employer are what matters, not the results of a test.
“When we teach students to pass relatively arbitrary individual assessments, we may be testing their intelligence and their stamina, but we are not setting them up for success in real life.
“The second flaw is that facts, learned this way, don’t stay in people’s brains long enough to be mastered and applied.
“The only way for us to retain, internalise and learn to use expert knowledge is to apply it, try different ways of utilising it, make mistakes, and then try again via a different route. In short, to learn just as we do in real life.”
Prince Gboleru said It is time universities start teaching students in ways that more resemble the actual workplace.
This, he said, does not mean university studies need to be vocational. “On the contrary, the importance of understanding the value of the latest research and of evidence-based thinking; of questioning accepted approaches; and of gathering data before making up one’s mind, can never be overstated.
“These are, incidentally, all prerequisites for the graduate workplace. We can’t leave it solely to employers to teach our recent graduates what the real workplace is like. We have a duty to prepare our students better and to let them practice on real life problems, in a safe space.”
He said active learning which will be the benchmark of Gboleru University will deliver better learning outcomes for students and, equally importantly, resembles real working life.
“So, our students will have more than a vague idea of their journey ahead. They also deserve to understand early on what learning is about and that, because it never stops, they can apply their skills in many different types of jobs after graduation,” he said.
Prince Gboleru further revealed that dedicated, resourceful and goal-driven professional educator with a solid commitment to the social and academic growth and development of every child will be engaged to get the job done.
He said the institution will only be interested in accommodating versatile individuals with the talent to develop inspiring hands-on lessons that will capture a child’s imagination and breed success.
He said strict guidelines will be adopted to attract highly motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated educator who wants all children to be successful learners.
Committed to creating a classroom atmosphere that is stimulating and encouraging to student, Prince Gboleru said aptitude to remain flexible, ensuring that every child’s learning styles and abilities are addressed will be promoted at the university.
“Superior interpersonal and communication skills to foster meaningful relationships with students, staff and parents; demonstrated ability to consistently individualize instruction, based on student’s needs and interests; exceptional ability to establish cooperative, professional relationships with parents, staff and administration as well as professional educator with diverse experience and strong track record fostering child-centered curriculum and student creativity will be given a pride of place in the new university.
A self-starter with high energy enabling maximum and efficient work under pressure as well as accustomed to working in a multicultural environment that emphasizes inclusion will be encouraged.
Gboleru said the institution already has its eye on a team of experts with experience in developing curriculum as well as conducting teaching, training and parenting programme; introduce concepts into curriculum related to life and social skills.
They have acquired special skills that will make them thoroughly enjoy working with children and encourage creative expression.
“They are enthusiastic, committed educator with innate ability to understand and motivate children,” he said. “They strive to build student self-esteem and encourage understanding of cultural diversity, gender differences and physical limitations.
“They create a cooperative community in the classroom; model for students the importance of mutual respect and cooperation among all community members. They are kkilled in adapting to students’ diverse learning styles.
“Our courses and research capacity will be geared towards excellence at a global level. We are focused on creating a lasting impact that contributes to the needs of communities and empowers people to achieve their aspirations.
Our ambition for our graduates is that they will be ethical, agile thinkers who are competitive in a global economy. Their experiences at Gboleru University will shape their sense of self as well as their future career.
Some of the courses that will be offered at the initial stage of the institution include Agriculture,
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Extension
Agronomy
Animal Science
Crop Science
Food Science and Technology
Fisheries
Civil Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Marine Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Petroleum and Gas Engineering
Systems Engineering
Structural Engineering
Production and Industrial Engineering
Environmental Sciences
Anatomy
Anesthesia
Chemical Pathology
Community Medicine
Dermatology
Hematology and Immunology
Medical Biochemistry
Medical Microbiology
Medicine
Morbid Anatomy
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ophthalmology
Otolaryngology
Pediatrics
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Physiology
Radiation Medicine Surgery
Psychological Medicine
Child Dental Health
Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management
Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Industrial Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy
Pharmaceutics
Pharmacognosy among others.
As digital payment adoption continues to grow across Nigeria and emerging markets, the next phase will depend not just on innovation, but on the strength, reliability, and trustworthiness of the infrastructure behind it.
While the ecosystem has made clear progress in recent years, trust remains a critical issue for users, businesses, and operators alike. Questions around resilience, security, interoperability and transaction reliability continue to shape how the market evolves and how confidently digital payments can scale.
These issues will be central to the deliberations at Digital Pay Expo 2026, where fintech leaders, payment operators, and other ecosystem stakeholders will gather under the theme, “Seamless Digital: Fostering Pan-African Market Expansion in the Era of AI.”
PalmPay’s participation reflects its continued commitment to building trusted and scalable payment infrastructure, while contributing to the broader industry efforts to strengthen systems, standards, and partnerships needed to support long-term ecosystem growth.
Speaking ahead of the event, Olorunfemi Hanson, Head of Marketing and Communications at PalmPay Nigeria, said: “As the financial services ecosystem continues to grow, trust and reliability become even more important.
“The industry’s next phase will be shaped not only by innovation, but by the strength of the infrastructure supporting it. Digital Pay Expo provides an important platform to address the resilience, interoperability, and trust issues that will shape the future of digital payments growth across Africa.”
The event, scheduled to be held from the 17th to the 18th of June, 2026, will feature Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, alongside other distinguished guests, including the Director-General, Payment System Management Department (PSMD), Central Bank of Nigeria. The event will examine how the industry can balance innovation, regulation, and scalability while strengthening trust across the digital payments value chain.
For PalmPay, this event reinforces its role in supporting a more resilient, secure and scalable payments ecosystem for Nigeria and emerging markets more broadly.
The UK Minister for Africa and International Development, Baroness Jenny Chapman, has concluded a two-day visit to Nigeria, during which she announced a new £15 million Growth Programme, deepened cooperation on digital transformation and health, and visited communities benefiting directly from UK investment on the ground.
The visit, spanning Abuja and Kaduna, underscored the breadth and depth of the UK–Nigeria Strategic Partnership and marked a significant step towards both countries’ shared priorities.
The UK–Nigeria Growth Programme
The centrepiece was the meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele. During their meeting, they discussed the new UK–Nigeria Growth Programme. Over three years, it will accelerate economic transformation, unlock private investment and support Nigeria’s transition from macroeconomic stabilisation to sustained, reform-led growth.
Alongside the Growth Programme, the UK announced deeper collaboration on Nigeria’s digital economy through the SPRIRET initiative, delivered under the UK’s Digital Access Programme. SPRIRET will support digital governance reforms across five Nigerian states, reducing regulatory barriers and enabling greater investment and innovation in broadband, digital services and emerging technology.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele said: “We continue to value the UK–Nigeria relationship, one of the most important partnerships for both our countries. Today, that relationship extends beyond traditional ties and now focuses on development, growth, and shared prosperity.
“The UK–Nigeria Growth Programme helps bring this partnership to life—supporting capital market development, technology investment, small businesses, and technical assistance. We look forward to seeing how these opportunities deliver lasting benefits and drive progress for both countries.”
Trade and bilateral ministerial meeting
During the visit, Baroness Chapman met with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole. Discussions covered progress under the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), including boosting exports via the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, fintech and capital markets links.
Kaduna: building on two decades of partnership
In Kaduna, Baroness Chapman met with Governor Uba Sani to take stock of over 20 years of UK–Kaduna partnership and explore how cooperation can deepen shared priorities. She heard from the business community and key institutional investors about their investment aspirations and the role of the UK in supporting investment mobilisation and enabling climate finance.
She met with community animal health workers and livestock breeders to discuss the UK’s support on breeding techniques, animal health and livestock vaccines. She also visited Unguwan Sanusi Primary Health Care Centre, which serves approximately 20,000 people in Kaduna South, hearing directly from patients and frontline health workers about the impact of UK-supported health programmes.
At the end of the visit, the UK Minister for Africa and International Development, Baroness Jenny Chapman, said: “This visit has reinforced everything I believe about the UK–Nigeria partnership.
“That it is deep, it is real, and it is moving in the right direction. From launching our new Growth Programme with Honourable Minister Oyedele, to meeting from frontline health workers in Kaduna — every conversation this week has shown me a country full of ambition and a partnership that is genuinely delivering for both sides.
“Nigeria is a partner that the UK is proud to stand alongside and I leave more convinced than ever that the next chapter of this partnership is its most exciting yet. The UK is here for the long term, and we are ready to grow together.”
More than 810 million women across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain offline, with Sub-Saharan Africa recording one of the world’s widest mobile internet gender gaps.
According to the GSM Association’s (GSMA’s) Mobile Gender Gap Report 2026, released this week, women in LMICs are still 12% less likely to use mobile internet than men, leaving an estimated 200 million fewer women connected than their male counterparts.
This is despite mobile internet becoming the primary gateway to the digital economy, according to new research from the GSMA.
The report reveals that of the 810 million women who remain offline globally, more than two-thirds live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia −regions that continue to experience the widest disparities in digital access.
The findings highlight significant implications for Africa, and the challenges facing governments, mobile operators and development agencies seeking to expand digital inclusion.
The report notes that Sub-Saharan Africa’s mobile internet gender gap stands at 26%, second only to South Asia’s 25%. The divide becomes even more pronounced outside major cities.
“In LMICs, the gender gap in mobile internet adoption tends to be two to three times wider in rural areas than urban areas. In 2025, across all LMICs, the gender gap in mobile internet adoption was more than three times wider in rural areas than in urban areas.
“There is also a difference at the regional level, where the gender gap in mobile internet adoption is wider in rural than urban areas of LMICs in every region except Europe and Central Asia.”
For Africa, the rural challenge is particularly severe, the report warns.
The GSMA found that the gender gap in mobile internet adoption reaches 34% in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, compared to 21% in urban centres.
Device challenge
Smartphone ownership remains a major obstacle to digital inclusion. The report found that women across LMICs are 13% less likely to own a smartphone than men, representing approximately 210 million fewer women with access to internet-enabled devices.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, only 34% of women own smartphones, with the region recording a smartphone ownership gender gap of 22%, with access to internet-enabled devices remaining one of the most important factors influencing whether women eventually adopt mobile internet services.
“The type of mobile device a person owns matters, as it typically affects whether and how they use the internet. Once someone owns a smartphone, they are much more likely to be aware of mobile internet, adopt it and use it regularly and in a variety of ways. In fact, once women own a smartphone, these metrics more closely resemble those of men,” notes the report.
Barriers persist
Despite growing awareness of mobile internet and its benefits, women continue to face multiple barriers to meaningful participation in the digital economy.
The report identifies affordability, literacy and digital skills as the leading barriers preventing women from getting online.
Even after gaining access, women frequently report safety and security concerns, data costs and connectivity quality as obstacles to broader internet use.
The report notes: “Addressing rural gender gaps is essential to advancing digital inclusion for women overall. In particular, women who live in rural areas tend to have limited physical access to essential services and may have the most to gain from better access to mobile and mobile internet.
“Addressing gender gaps in mobile ownership, particularly of smartphones, and in mobile internet use can help women in rural areas benefit from these digital technologies to the same extent as men.”
Claire Sibthorpe, head of digital inclusion at the GSMA, warns that progress is not happening quickly enough and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence risk creating new forms of digital exclusion.
“While there has been a slow narrowing of the mobile gender gap since 2022, much more is needed to address the persistent and significant gender gaps in mobile internet adoption and use.
“We live in an increasingly digital world and the proliferation of technologies such as AI are creating greater digital divides and inequities, elevating the need to ensure digital inclusion for all.”
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