Three major Lagos universities, including the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU), and Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), have joined forces with Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. This partnership focuses on advancing women’s education and STEM fields, aiming to foster opportunities for faculty and students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and creative industries.
The signing ceremony, which took place at UNILAG, gathered key figures from all participating institutions. Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, expressed optimism about the partnership strengthening ties with the diaspora community and boosting STEM education in Nigeria. She highlighted the potential for enhancing capacity, fostering better collaborations, and engaging in multi-disciplinary research initiatives.
LASU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administration, Prof. Adenike Boyo, represented Vice-Chancellor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello at the event. She highlighted LASU’s plans to leverage this partnership to strengthen its Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education. The university has also recently established new programs in tourism, film, performing arts, and cultural studies, as well as a Disabilities Support Office.
Dr. Helene Gayle, representing Spelman College, praised the consortium of Lagos universities for their commitment to faculty growth and national development. She explained that this collaboration stemmed from a U.S. Presidential Advisory Committee decision to promote educational exchange programs between Africa and the diaspora. Dr. Gayle expressed hope that African students would gain a better understanding of the world through the exposure offered by this partnership.
The agreement, titled “Developing Partnerships between U.S. and Nigerian Institutions of Higher Education,” aims to establish a framework for collaboration in various areas. These include advancing women’s education, promoting STEM fields, and fostering international exchange programs for both faculty and students. The partnership is expected to facilitate academic excellence among member universities and create new opportunities for cross-cultural learning and research.
Prof. Sola Oni, Dean of the School of Management and Social Science at PAU, also participated in the signing ceremony. The event was attended by Richard Mills Jr., U.S. Consul-General in Nigeria, members of the U.S. Presidential Advisory Committee, leaders from other Lagos universities, and staff and students from the partner institutions.
This collaboration represents a significant step towards internationalizing Nigerian higher education and strengthening academic ties between Nigeria and the United States. It promises to open up new avenues for knowledge exchange, research collaboration, and personal growth for students and faculty alike. As these institutions work together, they aim to contribute to the development of a more robust and globally competitive education system in Nigeria, particularly in the crucial fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
