BENI AMERICAN UNIVERSITY..THE NEW INNOVATOR OF EDUCATION

“Beni American University is my full time job. I really don’t like school only because of lack of personal expression. But Beni University will allow each student to personally express themselves”

I had the pleasure to sit with Gossy Ukanwoke, who is the President and Founder of Beni American University and also a senior at Girne American University, North Cyprus studying Management Information Systems.



What is Beni American University?
It is Africa’s first hybrid university. It has both online and on campus resources. It allows students learn online as well as on campus. Basically a school without classes. Campuses will have recreational activities, study lounges etc. Students take examinations physically on campus, work on assignments, group works, consultations. The library is always available to the students. We have access to over 10 million libraries.


Where and how did you come up with the name Beni? What does it mean?
(Laughing) I get that a lot. It’s something that is close to my heart, I like the name, I like the way it sounds. It has a lot of meanings from different languages.


Why did you found the Beni American University?
In Nigeria approximately 1.5 million students graduate from high school each year. A few hundred students get admitted into universities, because most universities admit once a year. Unfortunately that leaves millions of idle youths, some end up retaking the jamb exams. So many of these students want to get into universities to learn and to better their lives. Sadly they end up at home doing practically nothing. Beni American University has three admission intakes that students can enroll in and not just once a year.


What is your success rate right now?
Oh it is very successful. People are already registered in Enugu State. After we are done building our campus in Enugu next will be Lagos then Abuja. All feedbacks are about 95% positive


Are there any scholarship opportunities?
Definitely. We offer scholarships based on academics, government scholarship and also for girls and women. We award up to 30%


Is it available to every nationality or is it just for Nigerians?
Beni American University is for every Nationality, but right now we are starting with Nigeria first and hopefully expand e.g. East Africa.


What obstacles are you facing now?
Well, Generally people think it won’t work because it is an online university, few percentage of people have little or no experience with online classes. This is something new. There will be a lot of skepticism. But we will go to schools to talk to high school students. Also because of issues like lack of electricity. Which is why we partnered up with cyber cafes so students can access the web whenever they want to study, research etc. And they don’t have to pay for internet access because it is part of their tuition. Every student gets a computer that they can use at cyber cafes or at the library on campus.


What about lecturers?
Right now we have about over 20 lecturers. Which 8 are professors from the UK and England.


What about accreditations? You do need that right?
Accreditations usually takes a minimum of 2 years to get it, but we have an articulation right now.


What kind of courses/degrees does BAU offer?
Both Associate degrees and Degree but we only offer business programs for now. In order to promote entrepreneurship so students can create their own business ideas.


Tell me, who is Gossy?
I don’t know(smiling) I’m generally quiet. I make a lot of jokes. I have a lot of interests and I find myself able to do a lot of things in different areas.


People might describe Gossy as the next Mark Zuckerberg but I personally will say Mark Zuckerberg has nothing on him. Not only is he the founder of Beni American University he is also the founder of Student Circle Network. An educative social network for high school and college students that provides free course recourses and materials for students across the globe! Students get to interact with one another, share coursework’s, ideas, and to network. He is just a youth giving back to his country, giving people opportunities they might never have and at the same time earning a living. The world needs to watch out for Gossy who will change lives one student at a time. He is an A student and he may not like school but he is giving people the opportunity to express themselves in their own personal way once you enroll with Beni American University. And for students out there do find the time to join the Student Circle Network to help with assignments and research. He might be too shy to describe himself but he is a calm, intelligent young man. And to my surprise he writes and edits.

Read more about
Beni American University- beniamerican.org
Student Circle network- studentscircle.net
Follow him on twitter- @gossyomega

Written by Fatima Dangogo Daroda

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We cannot love others until we learn to love ourselves. What does it mean to truly love ourselves? I personally would have thought doing everything I would want was part of loving me. Fine dining, nice clothes, shoes and beautiful jewelry, basically anything and everything luxurious and super comfortable. And I have heard people so many times say “ I am doing this for myself because I love me “ question is do we really say that just to justify a selfish act we are about to do and need an excuse like not caring for people because of their inconveniences? Or we really need to do something we really want to do but only way to do it is by saying “ I’m going to do this because I love myself” . What I do know is that whatever people decide to do is basically what goes on in their minds. Actions we all take is strongly motivated by what we think is right and decide on what course of action to take or at least we do what we think is right even if it might be wrong. Anyway the philosophical definition “to love oneself” is that which I do not know but what I do know is that straying away from any physical, mental, spiritual and emotional harm AND stress of any sort that you can restrain from and keep yourself away from is part of you loving yourself. Contextual meaning of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual harm or stress can vary from one individual to another and since I am no shrink here I am not going to go into details but I’m pretty sure this is a no brainer. And since restraining from some of this “harm or stress” can easily come off as being selfish and again I’m in no place to judge ethical standards here but I do think if an individual decides to take any course of action that they think is right, and that decision is genuine and not for other alternative reasons like to be selfish then they should go ahead and “ Love their selves” and if people around them perceive it as being selfish then I guess it’s time they fend for their emotions. But I would like to think that people we keep around us will want us to love ourselves because they love themselves too. It really isn’t rocket science. Analyze the people you keep around you.

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Part of who I am and what I am is what my mother taught me. Cliché I know and I truly dislike talking about myself. I am more of a listener than a talker, safe to say I do not really like the spotlight. But anyway Part of me is what my mother has taught me and shown me. And I want to share this because I wouldn’t be where I am mentally without her. Growing up she would always tell me what I am doing is to better myself and not her. Education and spirituality is for me to reap the fruits of my labor and not for her, because she doesn’t need it but I will. She will often ask where do you want to be 5 years from now? 10 years from now? And before I will answer she would ask again where were you 5 years ago? Where were you 10 years ago? If she hadn’t asked me that I would never had realized how time flies. I mean yes time flies but then when you actually go through that flashback you realize it was just the other day. But you have to ask yourself if you have grown from that person you were, and if you have changed for the better or if everything is static. The same way those years that you lived by came by so fast is the same way more years will pass by. Most of us just exist, blindly living through the days one after the other- days, weeks and then years without truly knowing what we want to do or who we want to be. But mostly generally having an idea of the future that sometimes unfolds in our favor and other times well Man makes plans and God makes his plans. Whatever you are doing RIGHT now is for you and most likely for your children and for some a family name, but if whatever you are doing right now hasn’t worked after so many tries try something new. Trying something new is different from giving up. But most important thing is to realize time does fly by and isn’t just a metaphor. Ask yourself where you 5 years ago? 10 years ago? And where do you see yourself 5 years from now and 10 years from now. I’m guessing not where you were or where you are.