In a landmark event held on Friday, October 24, 2025, history was made as the Erudite Growth and Advancement Foundation (ERGAF-AFRICA) and Miva Open University formally entered into a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to commemorate the 2025 United Nations World Development Information Day under the theme “Information for Development: Bridging Knowledge and Action in Africa.” The ceremony, which drew participants from academia, public and private sectors, policymakers, students, and members of the public, marked a bold commitment by both institutions to deepen collaboration in research, innovation, capacity building, and policy engagement across the continent.
Presenting the World Development Report (WDR) 2025 virtually at the event, the President of ERGAF-AFRICA, Dr. Chibuzo Okereke underscored that the report focused on the centrality of standards as drivers of sustainable development. He articulated the taxonomy of standards highlighted in the WDR 2025—transitioning from absence or weak standards to adoption/adaptation, and ultimately to authorship—as a critical pathway for national progress. Drawing parallels with Africa’s current trajectory on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Okereke emphasized that “He who owns the standards owns the market,” urging African governments to transform SDG targets into clear, measurable standards and to invest in robust standards governance infrastructure to enhance development outcomes.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Professor Tayo Arulogun, commended ERGAF-AFRICA’s forward-thinking approach to knowledge-driven development and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to fostering partnerships that merge data, information, and policy for the advancement of society. Similarly, the Head of Department, Public Policy and Administration, Professor Sam Oni, emphasized that evidence-based policymaking remains the bedrock of effective governance, adding that data and information are indispensable tools in shaping inclusive development.
Mrs Jennifer Okereke, Board of Trustees Member of ERGAF-AFRICA, while delivering goodwill message, described the partnership as a historic and welcome development, commending Miva Open University for its excellence in research, innovation, and technology-driven learning. The partnership, according to him, symbolizes a shared vision to use education, research, and technology as instruments for societal transformation.
The high point of the occasion was the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between both institutions. Professor Tayo Arulogun, supported by Professor Sam Oni, signed on behalf of Miva Open University, while Mrs. Obidiya Jennifer Okereke signed on behalf of the Board and Management of ERGAF-AFRICA, assisted by Mr. Raphael Tarbo, Senior Data Analyst; Precious Chidokwe; and Jennifer Luke of ERGAF-AFRICA.
Under the terms of the MoU, both organizations agreed to collaborate in the following key areas:
“Capacity building and professional development
“Joint research, learning, and innovation using data and technology
“Organization of conferences, workshops, mentorship, and fellowship programmes
“Policy engagement and advocacy initiatives to bridge knowledge and action gaps
“Strengthening grassroots participation in governance
“Providing technical support for legislative institutions and governance systems.
The Erudite Growth and Advancement Foundation (ERGAF-AFRICA) is a not for profit continental think-tank, legislative governance and policy innovation hub committed to strengthening governance institutions, fostering legislative accountability, and promoting evidence-based policymaking across Africa through research, data, and strategic partnerships. Its flagship project- National Assembly Deliberative Barometer, accesses African Legislatures Healthy Productivity Index using a user-friendly Digital Interactive Dashboard.
Miva Open University is Nigeria’s premier fully accredited open and distance learning institution, dedicated to democratizing access to quality education through technology-enabled platforms, innovative research, and learner-centered academic programmes designed to empower individuals and transform societies.
Together, ERGAF-AFRICA and Miva Open University have charted a new course for collaborative development in Africa—anchored on knowledge, innovation, and information for sustainable growth.
