Study-to-understand, Michael Ibie’s path to MiVA’s first-ever best graduating student

For many students, academic success is measured by long hours of study and examination scores. For Michael Ibie, however, the formula was different: study to understand, stay disciplined, and remain consistent.

That approach earned him the distinction of emerging as MiVA Open University’s first-ever best graduating student at the institution’s maiden convocation.

The fintech expert, who decided to upskill via online learning, enrolled in MiVA Open University, Nigeria’s first private online open university, being intentional about pursuing excellence.

“I was intentional about pursuing excellence because I believe that whatever God gives us to do should be done wholeheartedly. From the day I enrolled, I resolved to approach my studies as an act of stewardship and worship.

“However, graduating with a CGPA of 4.97/5.00 and being named the Best Graduating Undergraduate Student of Miva Open University’s inaugural graduating class was still a pleasant surprise,” he said.

Ibie revealed that one principle that guided him throughout the programme was ‘study to understand’, not merely to pass examinations.

“I tried to engage every course with genuine curiosity, connecting what I was learning to my work, my leadership responsibilities and the challenges facing society.

Besides, I made it a habit to do some schoolwork every day, so it never piled up too much. My goal was always to stay ahead of, or at least in step with, the academic calendar,” he emphasised.

Speaking about his daily routine while the programme lasted, he said, “One of the most helpful things I did was develop a personal daily schedule.

“My day usually started with prayer and personal devotion, followed by preparing my toddler for school. Then I would attend to my responsibilities at work, schedule time for lectures, assignments or reading, fulfil church responsibilities, and spend time with my family.”

However, Ibie pointed out that he did not always keep to the exact hours he allocated, but having a structured timetable served as a guide.

This, he observed, quickly showed him when one area of his life was receiving less attention than it should, allowing him to make adjustments before things became overwhelming.

The tech expert emphasised that time management was easily his greatest challenge during the online programme.

“Balancing the demands of helping to build a growing company, serving in church, raising a young child and studying required constant prioritisation.

My son was only a few months old when I started at Miva, so childcare was a significant responsibility. Interestingly, my wife, my older son and my sister-in-law were also studying at Miva.

“During examination periods, one of our biggest questions became: who is watching the baby while everyone else is writing exams?” he noted.

Though he acknowledged that the challenges reminded him that success is rarely a solo effort, he said that planning made a significant difference for him.

“I learned to be intentional with my time, communicate openly with my family and accept that every season requires certain sacrifices.

My wife was incredibly supportive throughout the programme, and together we created a rhythm that allowed each of us to pursue our goals while ensuring nothing else suffered for it.

“I also came to appreciate that excellence is built through consistency rather than occasional bursts of effort. Small daily progress eventually compounds into significant results,” he said.

Ibie, who is the co-founder and chief operating officer at Lumen (formerly PhastMoney), a Nigerian fintech company focused on expanding access to responsible credit, disclosed to BusinessDay that he was motivated to excel not primarily for the grades alone but as obedience to God.

“I felt a strong conviction to return to school after many years in professional practice, and once I believed that God was leading me in that direction, I wanted to honour Him by doing my very best.

“Excellence, to me, is an expression of gratitude and worship to God,” he noted.

He believes that quality online education is one of the most important innovations in the higher education space in the contemporary era.

“Many capable people delay or abandon their education because traditional learning models cannot accommodate the realities of work, family and other responsibilities.

“My experience at Miva demonstrated that rigorous academic standards and flexibility can coexist. Online education certainly demands discipline and self-motivation, but when delivered well, it expands access to quality education for people who might otherwise never have the opportunity,” he said.

Besides, he applauds the quality of lectures and lecturers that make MiVA an exceptional online institution.

“The lecturers challenged us to think critically rather than simply memorise information, and I appreciated how willing they were to engage with students.

I also made it a point to attend virtually every live class, even on days when work or family responsibilities meant I had to listen more than I could actively participate.

“Interestingly, the first academic recognition I received at Miva was for my consistency in attending classes, and that encouraged me to remain disciplined throughout the programme,” he stressed.

Beyond the lecturers, he explained that the success advisors also played an important role in helping students navigate both academic and administrative challenges.

Ibie said that for him, learning does not end with graduation. Hence, he has enrolled in a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Miva Open University and will be resuming in September.

“I intend to continue growing professionally while contributing more intentionally to Nigeria’s development through financial inclusion, public policy and innovation.

“I have come to believe that education is not something you complete before life begins. Lifelong learning is one of the foundations of effective leadership,” he said.

Looking back at his MiVA journey, Ibie said, “I could not have achieved this alone. My wife was an incredible partner throughout the journey, and my family made countless sacrifices that allowed me to succeed.

“Balancing work, family, church and academics required planning, flexibility and honest communication. There were many late nights, early mornings, and moments when I had to choose discipline over convenience.

“Looking back, one lesson stands out above all else: while one person’s name appears on the certificate, many people contribute to the journey.”