The initiative represents one of the most significant private-sector investments in Nigerian higher education in recent memory.

The Moniepoint Innovations Hubs will be built at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).

The three institutions were strategically selected to scale the impact of the interventions across Nigeria’s geographic regions and to reflect a commitment to ensuring that opportunity is not concentrated in a single city or region but is proportionally distributed across the country, in line with Nigeria’s diversity and potential.

Each Moniepoint Innovation Hub will serve as a permanent centre for hands-on training in software engineering, data science, and artificial intelligence; design; robotics; product development; and entrepreneurship.

Open to students across all faculties, the programme will guide participants from curiosity to career readiness through structured, cohort-based learning, mentorship, and real-world project execution.

The initiative was formally announced today at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife in a ceremony attended by the Vice-Chancellors of all three universities, senior leaders from academia and industry, student representatives, alumni, and members of Nigeria’s broader innovation ecosystem.

Speaking on the initiative, Tosin Eniolorunda, co-founder and chief executive officer, Moniepoint Group,  said,

“When you look at the success of companies like Moniepoint, it’s easy to forget that it all started with the foundational training we received right here in Nigerian universities. This initiative is about paying that trust forward. Nigeria’s digital economy cannot run on potential alone; it requires immense, localized talent density. By launching these Innovation Hubs beginning with OAU, UNN, and ABU Zaria, we are intentionally anchoring world-class technical skills across the country.

And this is just the first step as we look across other tertiary institutions. Before we built anything, universities like UNILAG and OAU built people like Felix and I, giving us our first formal training in the disciplines that became our careers.”

Furthermore, Eniolorunda continued,

“Nigeria’s future will to a very large extent be built by Nigerians trained in Nigerian institutions. These three Hubs are my contribution to making that future credible by creating a solid pipeline for the emergence of great products and ideas. To truly scale our digital economy, we need high-density, industry-ready tech talent as a bulwark. We are investing these billions of Naira to ensure our tech ecosystem is powered by sustainable, homegrown excellence.”

Also speaking at the announcement ceremony, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, the vice chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University,  stated,

“Obafemi Awolowo University has always stood for excellence, and for the belief that knowledge must serve society. This partnership with Moniepoint Group is a powerful affirmation of that conviction. The Moniepoint Innovation Hub will not only expand what our students can learn but also transform what they believe is possible. We are grateful to Moniepoint for choosing to root this investment in our institutions, and we are committed to ensuring that every naira translates into opportunity for our students and for Nigeria.”

Beyond financial support, Moniepoint Inc will contribute deep industry expertise through curriculum development, mentorship, internship pathways, and expert-led learning experiences.

The company’s engineering, product, and business teams will collaborate directly with each hub to ensure that training is not only globally relevant but also firmly grounded in the realities and demands of the modern African technology ecosystem.

The hubs are designed to be living institutions, not lecture halls, but launchpads of Nigerian excellence. Students will complete structured cohort programmes, work on live projects, and benefit from direct connections to Moniepoint’s network of engineers, investors, and industry leaders.

The goal is not simply to teach skills, but to produce the builders and problem-solvers who will shape the next chapter of Africa’s digital economy.

The ceremony which attracted dignitaries from within and outside the University included Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor G.A Aderounmu, Dean, Faculty of Technology, OAU, Professor L. E. Umoru, Dean of the Faculty of Science, OAU, Professor O.A Adesina, DVC Academic of UNN, Professor Kamoru O Usman, DVC, Advancement, Research & Innovation”, ABU, Professor Aliyu Sanusi, Former Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Obayopo, VP, People Operations, Moniepoint, Chinaza Nduka-Dike, SVP, Enterprise Network Sales, Ifeanyi Duru amongst others.

It will be recalled that Moniepoint Innovation Hubs builds on earlier investments by the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation in building a CAD/CAM laboratory at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, OAU valued at over 100m naira and the HatchDev Program at the University of Lagos championed by Moniepoint’s co-founder & Chief Technology Officer, Felix Ike in partnership with NiITHub innovation centre where about 500 young developers are trained annually.

The initiative reinforces Moniepoint’s broader mission to create financial happiness for every African, everywhere, a mission that, the company believes, requires investing not only in financial infrastructure, but in the institutions and talent pipelines that will drive Africa’s future prosperity.

This announcement was made during a recent visit of 9mobile’s leadership team to the institution.

This partnership first established 10 years ago, has been revitalized to bring new and exciting opportunities to the institution and the learning community.

The renewed partnership will leverage the strengths of 9mobile’s technology to provide the institution with world-class virtual learning tools and products, internships for students of the Master’s programme instituted in 2013, and Sabbatical leave opportunities for lecturers, among other initiatives.

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The telco will also upgrade the existing Telecoms Engineering laboratory it previously installed to offer students and lecturers the highest level of support and improve the capacity of the department to deliver quality teaching.

Juergen Peschel, Chief Executive Officer of 9mobile, who led the team, said, “We are excited at rekindling our partnership with this great institution of learning. This partnership, which was established a decade ago, is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility which is aimed at bridging the shortage of highly skilled local manpower in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry following identified knowledge gaps. We are eager to work with the leadership of ABU once again, and we believe this renewed partnership will bring exciting new opportunities for the institution.’’ he enthused.

Professor Ahmed Ibrahim, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Admin at ABU Zaria, in his welcome remarks said, “We appreciate the collaboration and partnership with 9mobile over the years because it has strengthened the capacity of the Telecommunications Engineering department of the institution to manage the fast-changing technology age. The Telecommunication laboratory established by 9mobile in 2013 serves internal stakeholders and enables external institutions to carry out industry research. We believe this renewed partnership will create more opportunities for our students and 9mobile”.

9mobile launched the 9mobile Telecommunications Engineering Program 9TEPP, in partnership with Plymouth University UK; Etisalat Academy, UAE; Huawei; and National Office for Technology Acquisition & Promotion (NOTAP).

The key objective of the programme is to contribute at developing local manpower with regard to telecommunications technology skills and knowledge.

The long-term goals were to develop a pool of telecom technology experts to serve as a possible workforce for 9mobile and other verticals, promote industry/academia partnerships, and sustainably empower society through strategic and innovative CSR initiatives.

9mobile funded four ABU Zaria Lecturers to obtain their Ph.D in Communication Engineering from the Plymouth University, United Kingdom and more than 30 MSc. Students graduated from the programme on a fully funded scholarship by 9mobile.