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By Enyeribe Ejiogu
Dr Efe Anaughe, a legal practitioner and President, Warien Rose Foundation, has initiated a move to redefine higher professional tertiary education in the country with full focus on social entrepreneurship. The process to mainstream Nigeria into the global trend began formally in 2024 when Warien Rose Academy received international accreditation from the global leader in social entrepreneurship, which is based in Switzerland. The innovative programmes of the academy are fast gaining acceptance. In this interview, Anaughe sheds more light on social entrepreneurship education.
Give us an overview of your activities in the last two years since the Warien Rose Foundation took off.
Within the past two years, Warien Rose Foundation launched the Warien Rose Academy, which is accredited by a Swiss institute. The academy introduced the Women Leaders Executive MBA. Over the course of the past 24 months too, we built SafeSpace Connect, a digital GBV reporting platform active in five states; we built the skills of over 100 women in leadership, business, and politics; and mentored, coached, and empowered over 200 Women with Determination (these are women who should no longer be referred to as persons with disabilities) through our Fearless Series, a platform we are using to close knowledge gaps and promote inclusion. They were also empowered in vocational skills. We also partnered with GIABA–ECOWAS to advance integrity and transparency.
At what point in the trajectory of the Foundation did you decide to set up the Warien Rose Academy?
The Warien Rose Academy was established in February 2024, following years of empowering women in business, politics, and leadership. It represents the Foundation’s evolution from hands-on empowerment to a formal, accredited platform for developing high-level skills and leadership capacity.
What is the focus of the academy and what real need is established to meet in the educational space of the country?
Warien Rose Academy champions diversity, equity, and inclusion, offering a broad range of programmes that equip individuals with practical skills, leadership capacity, and confidence. While a programme like the Women Leaders Executive MBA is a flagship offering, the Academy provides globally accredited learning opportunities across business, governance, civic engagement, and personal development. Its mission is to foster a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment where everyone can thrive.
In clear terms, please explain what sets it apart from other educational or post-university training institutions like the Fate Foundation and Lagos Business School.
In a nutshell, Warien Rose Academy is redefining higher professional tertiary education with high degree of ethical leadership. In the current educational space, education too often stops at theory. The academy is charting a bold new course — one that transforms knowledge into action, learning into leadership, and ambition into impact. More than just an institution, WRA is a movement for professional excellence, integrity, and inclusion. It stands as a beacon for individuals who want more than an academic credential those seeking the kind of education that empowers them to lead, innovate, and create meaningful change in their communities and industries.
At the heart of the Academy’s philosophy is a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. WRA provides a safe and collaborative environment where individuals from different backgrounds and professions are equipped with the skills, confidence, and leadership capacity to thrive. The Academy’s globally accredited programmes span business, governance, civic engagement, and personal development, ensuring that learning is not confined to the classroom but connected to real-world transformation.
Unlike traditional academic MBAs, Warien Rose Academy represents the future of professional education. It’s a place where theory meets practice, where innovation meets ethics, and where education serves as a bridge to opportunity and empowerment. Each programme is intentionally designed to help learners apply knowledge, build enterprises, and drive measurable impact.
A defining feature of WRA’s professional and executive MBA programmes is the integration of social entrepreneurship training — one of the most dynamic trends shaping the future of leadership education.
Social entrepreneurship is the art of identifying social problems and using business principles to develop sustainable, income-generating enterprises that create positive social and economic change. Emerging in the late 20th century, this field reflects a global shift toward purpose-driven enterprise, proving that profitability and social responsibility can and must coexist.
At Warien Rose Academy, this principle is not merely taught; it is lived. Participants, many of whom already hold academic degrees, are re-trained to establish and run social ventures that address real societal needs. As a core requirement of earning their professional or executive MBA, they must create viable business solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities.
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In this way, WRA produces not just graduates but employers, innovators, and job creators. Its alumni emerge as wealth builders and changemakers, equipped to lead enterprises that combine success with service, and ambition with accountability.
Through experiential learning, mentorship, and global accreditation, the Academy ensures that every learner’s journey is rigorous, relevant, and deeply transformative. It bridges the gap between aspiration and achievement, turning potential into purpose.
Warien Rose Academy stands apart because it redefines what education can and should be: a force for empowerment, equity, and ethical leadership. Its vision is to build a new generation of professionals who use their knowledge to elevate others — ensuring that integrity, fairness, and transparency are not just ideals, but everyday realities. In a rapidly changing world, WRA is not only preparing people for the future, it is shaping the kind of future worth preparing for.
What has been the response to the school since it took off?
Since its launch, Warien Rose Academy has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and stakeholders. Learners praise its transformative, practical approach, while strategic partnerships with global institutions enhance its credibility and impact. Beyond academics, the Academy and its parent foundation continue to make meaningful contributions to community empowerment and social development.
Specialized educational or training institutions usually have technical agreements or collaborations with other more established institutions. In the case of Warien Rose Academy, what is the picture like?
Warien Rose Academy proudly partners with the world’s leading social entrepreneurship institute, based in Switzerland. In the emerging field of social learning, this collaboration is groundbreaking—granting us global accreditation and placing us at the forefront of innovative, practical education. It’s exciting to be part of shaping the future of social entrepreneurship education.
What are the major challenges and how is the academy tackling them to remain operationally effective, efficient and impactful?
The Academy faces challenges common to specialized educational institutions, including limited awareness of social learning programmes, bridging theory with practical application, ensuring inclusivity, and maintaining operational sustainability. We’re tackling them through awareness and outreach; practical, inclusive curriculum; operational efficiency and impact measurement.
Why should philanthropic personalities sponsor the training of chosen individuals in Warien Rose Academy?
Sponsoring Warien Rose Academy directly empowers talented, underrepresented individuals with skills, confidence, and networks. It’s a chance to create real social impact and nurture the next generation of leaders in business, governance, and civic life.
In the next five years, where would you like to see Warien Rose Academy?
In the next five years, I envision Warien Rose Academy as a leading hub for inclusive, practical, and globally accredited education, recognized for transforming underrepresented individuals into skilled, confident, and impactful leaders. We aim to expand our reach nationally and internationally, shape policy in social entrepreneurship education, and create a sustainable network of alumni driving meaningful change in communities worldwide.
Is there anything else you would like to talk about?
I would like to highlight that Warien Rose Academy is more than a learning hub. It’s a movement to empower individuals, break barriers, and create sustainable impact. Beyond our programmes, we are committed to nurturing a culture of inclusion, integrity, and innovation, ensuring every learner, regardless of background or ability, has the tools, confidence, and networks to lead and transform their communities.
