Semicolon and Abiola Ajimobi Technical University (Tech-U) have signed a partnership that both parties say will bridge the gap between academia and industry in Nigeria.
The partnership, which is already live, includes a credit transfer pathway that recognises Semicolon’s techpreneurship certificate and creates a pathway for Semicolon alumni to gain an undergraduate degree in computer science in two years.
Meanwhile, Tech-U students can access Semicolon’s programmes, with both organisations working together to create industry-relevant curricula and explore financing options.
“There is a disconnect between what is taught in universities and the world of work,” Prof. Adesola Ajayi, Vice-Chancellor of Tech-U, said in a statement. “The world does not just need workers as much as it needs innovators, problem-solvers and leaders who can make a meaningful impact.”
Semicolon has a long-standing relationship with the academic community since it was founded by Sam and Ashley Immanuel in 2019. A partnership with the University of Reading’s Henley Business School has provided classes in business and entrepreneurship for Semicolon students since 2019, and it has also partnered with the Lagos Business School in the past.
Partnering with Tech-U is one more step towards ensuring that its students have a degree along with skills, something that is crucial in countries like Nigeria where an undergraduate degree is often required for most jobs.
“Even though there are programmes like Semicolon and others filling gaps in training tech talents, the large numbers of people going into technical education are still going to the universities and polytechnics, so ultimately I don’t think we can be successful in building human capital in Nigeria and ignore the universities,” Ashley Immanuel, COO at Semicolon, said on a call with Techpoint Africa.
Local competitor AltSchool Africa took a similar approach in 2021 when it announced a partnership with the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University to provide its graduates with diploma certificates.
Semicolon currently graduates around 150 students each year, and according to Immanuel, about a third of them do not hold a tertiary degree. She expects some of Semicolon’s alumni to take immediate advantage of the partnership, with more accessing degrees over time as the company partners with more universities.
Conversely, Computer Science graduates from Tech-U can also benefit by enrolling in Semicolon’s programmes to gain additional industry experience.
