UNILORIN signs MoU with South African varsity

By Abubakar Imam

As part of efforts to widen its international horizons, the University of Ilorin last Tuesday (July 29, 2025) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Free State, South Africa.

At the MoU signing ceremony, which took place at the Equitas Auditorium of the South African university, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Oladapo Egbewole, SAN, signed on behalf of the University while the Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof. Hester C. Klopper, signed on behalf of her university.

In his remarks, Prof. Egbewole said that UNILORIN is always willing to broaden its service orientations and delivery capacities through cooperation and collaborations with friendly institutions of higher learning across the world and with international organisations.

Prof. Egbewole, who was recently elected the Vice President (West Africa) of the Association of African Universities (AAU), described the University of Ilorin as Nigeria’s most peaceful ivory-tower, adding that the University, which is set to mark its Golden Jubilee in November this year, has impacted the society positively through significant intellectual and technological innovations and production of thousands of distinguished alumni who are in turn making positive impacts across the world.

The Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law explained that the MoU, which covers staff and student exchange, cultural collaborations, joint researches and other forms of positive networking, would be of benefit not only to the two universities but also to the peoples and governments of Nigeria and South Africa.

On her part, the host Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Klopper, thanked the University of Ilorin for choosing to partner her university.

Prof. Klopper, who is the first woman to head the University, explained that the two universities have rich histories of peace, progress and intellectual vibrancy, which would ensure the fruition of the MoU.

A former Head of the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, University of Ilorin, Prof. Azubike Onuora-Oguno, endorsed the MoU as a witness while the representative of the Dean of the host University’s Faculty of Law also appended his signature as a witness.

As part of his working visit to the famous South African university, Prof. Egbewole last Wednesday (July 30, 2025) delivered a well-applauded keynote address, titled, “Understanding and Predicting Unconstitutional Changes of Government, Megatrends, Causes, Effects and Legacies”, at a three-day programme jointly organised by The African Network of Constitutional Lawyers (ANCL) and the Faculty of Law, University of the Free State. The programme was themed “Winter School and Conference on Constitutionalism in Africa Unconstitutional Changes of Government.”

The programme, which ran between Monday, July 28 and Thursday, July 31, 2025, also saw Prof. Onuora-Oguno, in conjunction with the President of the Nigerian Society for International Law and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Prof. Yinka Omoregbe, delivering another paper titled “An Expository of the Role of Civil Society Organisations in an Evolving Governance Terrain in Nigeria.”

One of the take-aways from the event was the granting of the University of Ilorin the privilege of hosting the 2026 edition of the Annual General Meeting of ANCL.

Speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin on the development, the Director, Centre for International Education, University of Ilorin, Prof. Lateef Onireti Ibraheem, commended the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Egbewole, for his relentless efforts at ensuring that the University is fully internationalised.

Prof. Onireti said that he was convinced that the MoU signed with the South African university would be of tremendous benefits to the two friendly institutions as it would also bridge gaps in opportunities. The Director, who teaches at the Department of Arabic, wished Prof. Egbewole more successful accomplishments.