Overview and History of Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye Ogu State

 
Nestled in the historic town of Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State, Aletheia University represents a fresh and promising chapter in Nigerian private higher education. As tertiary-education demand continues to rise, this institution emerges not just to fill more seats but to offer a distinct vision: one in which academic rigour, entrepreneurial mindset and character formation are intertwined. For students in the region and beyond, Aletheia promises to be more than just a place to earn a certificate—it aims to be a space where young people develop into creators of value, ethical leaders and professionals equipped for the challenges of a fast-changing world. In a country where access to quality university education remains uneven, Aletheia University brings hope by offering new capacity, innovative programmes and a learning environment conceived for the twenty-first century. Its presence in Ogun State, a region with strong educational traditions, positions it strategically: students benefit from proximity to established institutions and culture of scholarship, while the university itself can tap into local networks of knowledge, industry and community. As it grows, the university holds the potential to reshape pathways for students who might otherwise travel far or be denied higher-education opportunities.

This blog post offers an informative and humanised look at Aletheia University: exploring its official website, motto, founder, history, leadership, accreditation status, academic structure and facilities, campus life, and the prospect of its emerging alumni. Whether you are a prospective student, parent, educator or stakeholder, this overview aims to provide clarity, insight and inspiration about this young higher-education institution.

##Official Website
The university maintains an official portal (though a fully detailed URL was not consistently published in the sources). Prospective students and interested stakeholders can find announcements about matriculation, academic programmes, admissions and infrastructure via press coverage and university-released statements. For example, the announcement of the first matriculation ceremony appeared online in campus-news outlets. On the website, one can typically expect to find the mission and vision statements, admissions requirements, list of programmes, news updates and contact information for inquiries.

##Motto
While no explicit wording of the motto was publicly highlighted in all sources, the university’s name—“Aletheia” (from the Greek for “truth” or “unveiling”)—points toward a philosophical foundation of integrity, truthfulness and enlightenment. The founder’s vision emphasises producing graduates who are grounded in moral character and professional competence. For illustration, during matriculation the Vice-Chancellor emphasised the university’s model of graduating students with multiple certifications—not just an academic degree but certificates in ICT, entrepreneurship and professional readiness. 
In this sense, the motto could be understood more as a concept than a turn-of-phrase: truth, knowledge, innovation, and service.

##Founder
The founder and Chancellor of Aletheia University is Major-General Sansadeen Adebanjo Awosanya (rtd). His biography reveals a distinguished career: he served in the Nigerian Army for 30 years, achieved senior ranks, and upon retirement moved into business and educational investment. He holds advanced academic credentials including a PhD in Accounting from a U.S. institution, and is a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). 

His motivation for founding the university stems from a belief in higher education as a tool for national and regional advancement, especially for students who wish to become job-creators rather than job-seekers. During the inauguration of the university’s governing council, he stated that the institution is designed to produce graduates with the entrepreneurial spirit and human values to make meaningful contributions. 

##History
Aletheia University is one of Nigeria’s newest private universities, officially approved in 2023 by the National Universities Commission (NUC) among the list of newly licensed institutions. 

In August 2023, the institution inaugurated its Governing Council, with the former Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr (Mrs) Onikepo Akande, appointed as Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council.

The university’s maiden matriculation ceremony took place in June 2024 with its first cohort of 33 students admitted into 17 academic programmes across three Colleges. 

From its inception the history of the institution emphasises readiness: the Vice-Chancellor declared that everything required for students to excel academically had been put in place and that students would graduate with multiple certificates (academic degree + ICT + professional + entrepreneurial) as a distinguishing model. 

Although the historical timeline is short (just a year or two of operational life), Aletheia University’s origin highlights several important facets: responsiveness to Nigeria’s higher-education access gap (as noted by Ogun State’s governor at the opening ceremony) a mission to equip students with skills for tomorrow’s labour market; and alignment with regional development in Ogun State.
Thus, the history of the institution may be brief but it is purposeful—reflecting a conscious effort to build a university tailored to modern demands, ethical formation and local impact.

##Chancellor
As stated above, the Chancellor is Major-General Sansadeen Adebanjo Awosanya (rtd). Here's a brief biography summarised:

Military career: Served in Nigerian Army for three decades; held roles culminating in senior position; awarded medals including Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star and served in United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). 

Academic credentials: Holds a Pre-military Diploma in Accounting (The Polytechnic Ibadan), BSc from Gwent College (UK), MBA from Federal University of Technology Akure, and PhD in Accounting from Marlborough University, Honolulu (USA). Member of Association of Certified National Accountants of Nigeria (CNA) and Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM). 

Business and educational investment: Chairman of Rostrum Investment & Securities Ltd (Member of Nigerian Stock Exchange) among other business interests. Through his foundation and philanthropic work (e.g., Great Thinkers Foundation in Ago-Iwoye) he has been engaged in community development. 

His role as Chancellor brings both the symbolic weight of his leadership and the operational commitment to the university’s growth. He articulates a vision of the institution as one that empowers students to be innovators and socially responsible professionals rather than simply degree-holders.

##Accreditation and Recognition
Aletheia University appears on the list of private universities licensed by the NUC in 2023

The institution is admitted into the list of universities whose degrees are recognised for admission by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) – as per a 2025 JAMB bulletin listing the university’s CBT centre among approved institutions. 

On matriculation of the first students, the Vice-Chancellor emphasised that the university has met screening requirements, emphasised academic and regulatory compliance and indicated that student graduands will receive multiple certifications including academic, ICT, entrepreneurial and professional credentials.

Prospective students are advised to check each programme’s accreditation status (especially professional or technical programmes) as the university is still in early phase and some course-by-course accreditations may be pending.

In summary, the accreditation and recognition status of Aletheia University is credible and the institution is officially in operation, but as with any new university, ongoing monitoring of programme-level accreditation is wise.


##Academic Structure and Facilities
Although still in its formative years, Aletheia University boasts a number of promising academic features and facility commitments. Here are at least six key elements:
Initial Programmes and Faculties – At launch the university admitted students across 17 programmes in three Colleges. Courses offered include 

Computer Engineering

Computer Science

Software Engineering

Electrical/Electronics Engineering

Food Science

Accounting

Banking & Finance

Business Administration

Economics

Mass Communication

Microbiology

Industrial Mathematics

Physics/Electronics

Industrial Chemistry 


##Campus Life and Facilities
Though the university is new, several indicators point to a vibrant and supportive campus life and facility base:

The campus is located in Ago-Iwoye, which offers a serene learning environment compared to congested urban campuses. This location advantage allows students to focus on studies, while also enjoying community integration.

The matriculation ceremony took place in the Senate Building foyer, indicating that administrative and academic facilities are operational. 

The emphasis on student discipline (warnings against cultism, drugs, indecent dress) by the VC underscores that the institution takes student life seriously and aims to provide not just academics but safe and well-managed student experience. 

The founder has talked about scholarships and fee rebates (as above) which support access and student welfare. 

As the university expands, plans for hostels, labs, lecture theatres, student services (ICT centres, entrepreneurial hubs) are likely to be implemented soon if not already underway. For now, the groundwork is laid.

For student enrichment, events such as the “Chill Fest” event at the campus (music, culture, tourism) have been reported, indicating the beginning of extracurricular life.