Egbewole advocates Africa-led partnership for higher education

By Isaac Lewu and  Bashirat Omotosho

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has reaffirmed that the future of African universities depends on purposeful collaboration among them.

He also urged higher educational institutions across the continent to strengthen partnerships that would promote research, innovation and sustainable development  adding that universities must work together to address Africa’s pressing challenges through Africa-led scholarship with global relevance.

Prof. Egbewole made this advocacy last Thursday(July 2, 2026) at the Auditorium Basement of the University while delivering his welcome address at a meeting of the U6+ Consortium hosted by the University.

He stressed that the meeting was convened to review the progress of the Consortium, evaluate ongoing collaborative programmes, prepare for its forthcoming conference at the University of Embu, Kenya, and identify practical strategies for advancing higher education through stronger institutional partnerships.

The legal luminary noted that the University has consistently embraced collaboration as a catalyst for academic excellence, stressing that initiatives such as its specialised research centres reflect its commitment to shared knowledge, innovation and capacity building. He  maintained that internationalisation should not be pursued for its own sake but should enhance Africa’s ability to provide solutions to its developmental challenges through impactful teaching, research and community engagement.

Prof. Egbewole expressed appreciation to the leadership of the U6+ Consortium, partner institutions, members of the Local Organising Committee and the University’s International Desk for ensuring the success of the meeting.

He encouraged delegates to explore the University of Ilorin, share ideas for improvement and identify best practices that could be replicated across member institutions for the collective advancement of higher education in Africa.

While declaring the meeting open, the Chairman of the U6+ Consortium and Vice Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, Prof. Herbert Robinson, commended the University of Ilorin for its warm hospitality and unwavering commitment to advancing higher education through regional collaboration. He described the active role of the University in the Consortium as a demonstration of its dedication to academic excellence and sustainable partnerships capable of transforming higher education across Africa.

Prof. Robinson stressed that the U6+ Consortium has continued to provide a strategic platform for member universities to leverage their collective strengths in research, innovation, staff and student mobility, and capacity building. He noted that sustained collaboration among African universities would enhance the ability of the Continent to address common developmental challenges while improving the global visibility and competitiveness of its institutions.

The Consortium Chairman urged member universities to remain committed to implementing agreed initiatives and translating their deliberations into measurable outcomes that would benefit their institutions and society at large. He  expressed confidence that the resolutions reached at the meeting would further strengthen the Consortium’s shared vision of promoting quality higher education, impactful research and sustainable development across Africa.

Presenting the keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, Prof. Musa Aibinu, whose paper was titled “Beyond Conferences: Building Sustainable, Impact-Driven University Consortia in Africa,”,  challenged African universities to move beyond hosting academic conferences and focus on establishing enduring partnerships that deliver measurable impact.

Prof. Abinu observed that while conferences provide valuable opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange, their true value lies in the collaborative initiatives they inspire.

He said that universities across the continent must build strategic consortia that promote joint research, academic mobility, innovation, resource sharing, and sustainable solutions to Africa’s developmental challenges.

Prof. Aibinu stressed that sustainable university consortia should be founded on shared vision, institutional commitment, and long term investment rather than short-term engagements.

Prof. Aibinu urged higher education institutions to strengthen collaboration with governments, industry, development partners, and international organisations to enhance research capacity, attract funding, and improve global competitiveness.

He pointed out that the universities that would lead Africa in the next decade would not necessarily be the biggest or the oldest, but those that collaborate most effectively and make their knowledge, impact, and achievements most visible.

Present at the event were the Vice Chairman of the U6+ Consortium and Vice Chancellor, University of Eldoret, Kenya, Prof. Thomas Cheriuyot, who was represented by Prof. Philip Raburo; the Vice Chancellor, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa, Prof. Chris Nhlapo, who was represented by Prof. Learnmore  Kambizi; the Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, represented by Prof. Issa Abdulraheem; the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Offiong, who was represented by his Deputy Vice Chancellor,  Prof. Engrinya Eneji; the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. Luqman Jimoh, who was represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University, Prof. Olubunmi Dada; the Vice Chancellor  of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Adenike Oladiji; the Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Prof. Lateef Oladimeji; the Vice Chancellor of Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, Prof. Rasheed Gbenga Jimoh; the Vice Chancellor of the University of Offa, Prof Kazeem Alagbe Gbolagade; the Vice Chancellor, Jimoh Babalola University, Prof. Muftau Adeniyi Ijaiya; while both the Vice Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University, Prof. Francisca Oladipo and the Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics, (The Pan-African University of Excellence),  Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji  joined virtually.