…We must make skills visible, verifiable and portable — Prof. Tokunbo Akeredolu-Ale

By Ifunanya Ndigwe

The change from theoretical learning to practical, life-changing application is taking root in Nigeria. This transformation is being driven by the Omniversity University Missouri, USA and Lagos, Nigeria, following discussions at the African Education Roundtable Conference held in October 2025.

The institution is redefining academic excellence through Practice-based Qualifications and the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). This system assesses the actual skills and competence an individual has gained throughout their career, regardless of where or how those skills were acquired.

President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Omniversity, Professor Tokunbo Akeredolu-Ale explained the vision behind this move.

Akeredolu-Ale stated that. “For Nigeria and Africa to convert demographic potential into sustainable economic development we must make skills visible, verifiable and portable.”

The framework is supported by the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF), which was validated in July 2023. It uses ISO-Certified Credentials to ensure that learning outcomes meet international occupational standards.

Several high-profile professionals have undergone this rigorous evaluation to earn titles such as Professor of Practice and Doctor of Practice. These candidates had to defend their career achievements before a panel of peers.

Professor of Practice in Strategic Management, Professor Toromade Francis described the intensity of the evaluation.

Francis said that. “During my evaluation, I was required to present verifiable board level strategy documentation, institutional turnaround records, and measurable performance outcomes across the organizations I have advised and led. The peer review process compelled me to clearly articulate the strategic logic behind my governance models and defend the institutional impact of my decisions.”

According to the Professor, this conferment formalizes decades of executive leadership into an academically recognized standing, strengthening his authority in high-level advisory and cross-border engagements.

In the field of technology, Professor of Practice in Cybersecurity, Professor Happiness Ndidi Obioha noted that her assessment required structured documentation of enterprise cybersecurity architecture and risk mitigation systems.

Obioha stated that. “I presented incident response protocols, audit outcomes, and resilience planning frameworks that demonstrated measurable risk reduction. The technical interrogation strengthened my governance documentation discipline and reinforced the structural integrity of my cybersecurity models.”

The agricultural sector also saw significant recognition. Doctor of Practice in Agribusiness, Fisheries and Agricultural Innovation, Doctor Gabriel Oyediji presented agribusiness value chain optimization systems and documented agricultural innovation outcomes.

Oyediji noted that. “The process reinforced analytical clarity around production efficiency and market integration strategies. The conferment affirms my leadership within structured agricultural governance.”

Other awardees included Doctor of Practice in Strategic Management and Leadership Development, Doctor Alex Ndudi Enebeli. He presented executive leadership transformation frameworks and governance restructuring systems to earn his title.

The institution also recognized traditional leadership. Member of the Distinguished Fellowship, Oba Clement Olusegun Akinyemi underwent a review of his traditional governance, community development initiatives, and socio-economic stabilization outcomes. The fellowship formalizes the link between traditional leadership and contemporary institutional frameworks.

In the public and private sectors, Fellow of Practice in Public Administration, Mister Azubuko Ugochukwu and Fellow of Practice in Human Capital Development, Mister Bulus James also received honors.

Ugochukwu explained that. “The structured review validated sustained public administration impact. The conferment enhances my credibility within policy advisory and governance reform platforms.”

James added that his evaluation required documentation of national training frameworks and workforce transformation outcomes. He noted that the fellowship strengthens his authority in institutional capacity building.

The Honorary Fellowship category further recognized leaders in manufacturing, maritime governance, and pharmaceutical production based on empirical evidence of their impact.

The central message from these proceedings is that professionals should be judged by the tangible work they produce rather than just the certificates they hold. This approach mirrors the success of global icons like Bill Gates and Professor Wole Soyinka, whose legacies are built on practical contributions to their fields.