Maduka University, Ekwegbe Nsukka, has deepened its vision of transformative learning with the matriculation of 664 students at its second ceremony held on Saturday, April 13, 2025. Founded by renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Samuel Maduka Onyishi, the institution continues to position itself as a trailblazer in value-based, practical education tailored to the Nigerian and global landscape.
Dr. Onyishi, in a rousing address, called for a complete overhaul of how education is delivered in the country. He emphasized that Maduka University is not a conventional academic centre but a mission-focused hub built to bridge the chasm between knowledge and real-world application. “We are designing education that answers Nigeria’s biggest questions,” he stated, urging students to embrace an environment where excellence, entrepreneurship, and ethics guide every pursuit.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Ogbulogo, highlighted the university’s explosive growth since opening its doors in November 2023. With over 1,260 students enrolled in just 17 months, he credited the surge in numbers to the trust placed in the university’s learner-first approach. “What we are building is not just a university — it is a movement for education that inspires students to lead, innovate, and think critically,” he declared.
The institution currently runs approved degree programs in Medicine, Law, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Engineering, Computing, Business, and Social Sciences. Each program was greenlit by the National Universities Commission (NUC), a move Prof. Ogbulogo says underscores the university’s commitment to credibility and academic rigour. He added that interactive teaching methods and a faculty drawn from leading institutions form the backbone of their academic excellence.
Former Minister of Information and ex-President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who delivered the matriculation lecture, praised the founder’s vision, describing the speed of the university’s development as “phenomenal.” He commended the infrastructural quality and staff strength, noting that the institution offers a rare blend of passion-driven leadership and purpose-built learning environments. “Dr. Onyishi is creating something Nigeria urgently needs — an educational sanctuary rooted in hope and excellence,” Nwodo said.
Chief Nwodo also warned of the crumbling standard in Nigeria’s public education sector, urging students at Maduka University to take full advantage of the rare opportunity before them. “You have light, water, committed lecturers, and a visionary founder — the kind of environment that builds leaders, not just graduates,” he told the new intakes, reminding them that the quality of their decisions in the next four years will shape the rest of their lives.
Parents, sponsors, and guests were full of praise for the university’s unique blend of moral grounding and entrepreneurial exposure. The event marked not only a celebration of new beginnings but a national call to rethink the essence of higher learning in a country desperate for solutions. With its eye fixed on societal impact and youth empowerment, Maduka University appears ready to redefine what a 21st-century Nigerian university should be.