I Regret Losing Konga: Sim Shagaya on Nigeria's Economy & Building a 1M Student University (MIVA)

In this powerful conversation on "Triumph Against Odds," Anchor Obidike Okafor sits down with Sim Shagaya—the visionary founder of Konga, uLesson, and Chancellor of MIVA Open University—to unpack his journey of relentless resilience, leadership pivots, and the mission to build Nigeria's next generation of human capital. Shagaya reveals the critical lesson he learned from the failure of Konga, the "divine" timing of MIVA's launch amidst national reforms, and the dramatic shift from the "grow at all costs" mantra to a profitability-first strategy that saved his company. He also shares his surprising new focus: a move into heavy industry or public service. KEY MOMENTS & CHAPTERS [01:22] The "Never Say Die" Military Background That Forged His Resilience. [04:34] MIVA University's Explosive Growth and the 1 Million Student Vision. [06:29] The Konga Exit: When the Dream Slipped Away in the 2015 Macroeconomic Earthquake. [07:48] Navigating the 2023 Reforms—Why It Felt Like 2015 Again. [10:33] The Business Pivot: Moving from "Grow at All Costs" to Profitability First. [13:40] Why He Refuses to Walk Away: Believing Nigeria Will Be Ascendant in His Lifetime. [26:45] Leadership in a Crisis: How to Balance Optimism with Hard Realism and Data. [31:31] The Next Chapter: Why Sim Shagaya Might Be Moving to Heavy Industry or Public Service. [39:15] The One Regret from Konga: Why He Should Have Been Asset-Light (A priceless lesson for African entrepreneurs). [42:23] Hidden Talent: The Surprising Thing Sim Shagaya is a "Really Good Cook" At! #business #entrepreneur #finance