University of Lagos (UNILAG) has concluded plans to strengthen collaborations with sister universities in the West African sub-region.
The plans formed part of resolutions reached at a two-day Regional Stakeholders Impact Workshop, which rounded off at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre recently.
Some of the areas identified for possible partnerships by the University of Lagos and four West African higher institutions include green energy, sports development, artificial intelligence, medical interventions, and entrepreneurial innovations, especially in the fintech sector.
The universities are: University of Sierra-Leone, University of The Gambia, University of Liberia and the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Professor Lucian Chukwu, in his remarks, praised the African Centre of Excellence on Drug Research, Herbal Medicine Development and Regulatory Science (ACEDHARS) for bringing together stakeholders in the sub-region to discuss issues of common concern, particularly the improvement of the quality of higher education in West Africa through regional specialization and collaboration.
His words: “On-going conversations that will build symbiotic relationships among universities in the West African sub-region are important because that will serve as platforms for ideas cross-fertilization and networking”.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics & Research), Professor Bolanle Oboh gave a presentation on UNILAG Strategic Plan (2012-2037) at the workshop.
She said the successful implementation of the plan underpins the quest of UNILAG to become Africa’s research hub and a lighthouse of solutions for the continent’s challenges.
The other participating institutions also made presentations, which afforded them the opportunity to showcase their areas of strength and collaborations with others.
The highlights of the visit by the visiting institutions were a tour of some facilities across UNILAG.
The facilities visited were the Sports Centre, Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Centre, Natural History Museum, the University Library, Distance Learning Institute, Academic Publishing Centre and Research Management Office.
