By Correspondent in Ilorin.
Nigerian universities have been urged to adopt strategic collaboration and innovation as tools to overcome the mounting challenges confronting the tertiary education sector.
This call was made at the opening of the 3rd KU8+ Consortium International Conference, hosted recently by Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the former acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, described the KU8+ Consortium as a pioneering model of institutional cooperation worthy of replication across the country.
Ribadu noted that the initiative demonstrates the value of local partnerships, resource sharing, and collaborative expertise in producing graduates capable of driving Nigeria’s economic transformation.
“With the current realities of inadequate funding and rapid technological shifts, our universities must rethink their values and reposition themselves to meet societal needs,” he said.
The KU8+ Consortium, a network of select universities in Kwara and neighbouring states, was established to strengthen teaching, research, and innovation through collective action.
In her goodwill message, Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to advancing education. She described the consortium as a testament to Kwara’s determination to promote excellence in higher learning.
“The KU8+ Consortium is proof that collaboration breeds excellence. Under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, we are making strategic investments in education that align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” she stated.
The Chairman of the event and Pro-Chancellor of KWASU, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, said the consortium’s growing success highlights Kwara’s role as a hub for human capital development in Nigeria.
The Chief Host and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, stressed that no university can thrive in isolation.
“We must collaborate in teaching, research, and community service if we want to make real progress,” he said.
The Host Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh of KWASU, reaffirmed that the KU8+ Consortium is anchored on innovation and sustainability.
“This conference reflects our shared vision to harness collaboration and research in solving real-world problems,” he noted.
With the theme “Innovation and Sustainability of Higher Education in a Changing World,” the conference featured keynote papers by distinguished scholars, including Professor Olutayo C. Adesina of the University of Ibadan and the University of Manchester, UK, and Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola, a former Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University.
Professor Adesina urged the consortium to prioritise local relevance before seeking regional and global recognition, cautioning against superficial expansion.
On her part, Professor Babalola emphasised the need for universities to produce graduates capable of tackling pressing societal challenges.
The gathering brought together top academics, policymakers, and stakeholders, generating robust dialogue on how Nigerian universities can adapt, innovate, and remain relevant in an ever-changing world.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
