By Tajudeen Babamale
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has stated that desk officers managing the University’s Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with institutions across the globe are central to the successful implementation of the internationalisation agenda of the University.
Prof. Egbewole made this known last Friday (January 23, 2026) during an interactive session with desk officers overseeing various local and international collaborations, held at the Auditorium Basement of the University.
The Vice Chancellor explained that desk officers occupy a strategic position in translating signed MoUs into tangible academic, research, and capacity-building outcomes, stressing that their effectiveness directly determines the value the University derives from its international engagements.
According to him, desk officers are not merely custodians of agreements but active drivers of collaboration outcomes, whose roles include coordination, monitoring, reporting, and ensuring that partnerships remain productive and aligned with institutional objectives.
The Vice Chancellor stated that the interactive meeting was convened to provide a platform for desk officers to engage directly with the University management, identify operational challenges, and propose practical solutions. He assured participants that the management was committed to addressing all constraints in order to strengthen the effectiveness of international collaborations.
As part of measures to enhance accountability and performance monitoring, Prof. Egbewole directed that desk officers must submit quarterly progress reports to the Centre for International Education (CIE), saying that, regular reporting would enable the University to track partnership activities, assess outcomes, and take timely corrective actions where necessary.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, reaffirmed the commitment of the University management to strengthening international partnerships and supporting desk officers in the discharge of their duties, adding that effective coordination and sustained engagement by desk officers would significantly enhance the global standing of the University.
In his remarks, the Director of the Centre for International Education (CIE), Prof. Lateef Onireti Ibraheem, acknowledged the significant support the University management has continued to provide towards the growth and advancement of the Centre, particularly in strengthening international collaborations and partnerships.
Prof. Ibraheem further appealed to the University management to act more swiftly on recommendations and proposals emanating from the Centre, noting that timely decisions and approvals are crucial to sustaining confidence and trust among the international partners of the University.
The CIE Director, who said that the internationalisation agenda of the University is a collective responsibility, said that all stakeholders must work in synergy to achieve set goals. According to him, sustained cooperation, prompt administrative actions, and shared commitment across all relevant units are essential for positioning the University of Ilorin as a competitive and credible institution in the global academic space.
In his presentation, the Project Manager for the University Rankings, Prof. Sulyman Folorunsho Ambali, noted that the strategic Vision 1:10:500 of the University is achievable, provided that international collaborations are properly structured, effectively managed, and aligned with institutional guidelines.
He recommended that all activities related to any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be driven by the Department that initiated the collaboration. According to him, this approach would ensure that the most relevant and competent personnel are attached to each project, thereby promoting efficiency, relevance, and impact in the execution of collaborative activities.
The Project Manager also explained the importance of effective and proper coordination in managing international partnerships, warning against practices that undermine institutional integrity. He listed common violations observed in the management of collaborations to include the signing of MoUs without appropriate authority, bypassing approved institutional procedures, violations of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, and other related infractions.
Prof. Ambali stressed that before any discussion on new partnerships commences, Departments intending to initiate collaborations must submit a detailed concept note to the Centre for International Education (CIE), saying that “this process is essential for proper evaluation, alignment with institutional priorities, and informed decision-making.”
He reminded participants that the University motto, Probitas Doctrina, must remain central to all international engagements. He explained that in the context of global partnerships, probity translates to integrity of character in collaborations, ethical conduct in research, responsible stewardship of resources, and deliberate protection of the institutional reputation.
