Stakeholders in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector have praised the KU8+ Consortium for charting a new path toward innovation, collaboration and sustainability in the face of persistent challenges affecting Nigerian universities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 3rd KU8+ Consortium International Conference held at Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, on Thursday, August 7, 2025, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, described the KU8+ initiative as a model worth replicating across the country.
Represented by Professor Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, the NUC boss noted that with dwindling funding and rapid technological advancements, Nigerian universities must rethink their value propositions to stay relevant.
“The KU8+ Consortium is commendable for promoting home-grown partnerships through shared resources and intellectual exchange. These kinds of alliances are what will produce graduates equipped to rebuild Nigeria’s economy,” he said, adding that the NUC was eager to learn from the outcomes of the collaboration.
The Kwara State Government, through the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, expressed strong support for the initiative, saying it aligns with the government’s vision for a transformed education sector.
“This consortium proves that cooperation delivers results. Under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kwara continues to invest in higher education, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” she stated.
The Pro-Chancellor of KWASU and Chairman of the occasion, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, OON, said the initiative solidifies Kwara’s growing position as a hub for human capital development in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and Chief Host, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, remarked that no single university can excel in isolation. He said partnerships like KU8+ are necessary for achieving national progress in teaching, research, and community engagement.
Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh, Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University and host of the conference, explained that the theme of the event, “Innovation and Sustainability of Higher Education in a Changing World,” reflects the consortium’s broader commitment to meaningful impact through collaboration and innovation.
He said, “Our mission is clear — to build a platform where ideas lead to solutions and higher education becomes a driving force for sustainable development.”
The conference featured lead papers by prominent scholars including Professor Olutayo C. Adesina of the University of Ibadan and University of Manchester, and Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola, former Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University.
Professor Adesina, in his paper titled “Mainstreaming the ‘Think and Do’ Initiative into Nigeria’s Higher Education in the 21st Century: Creating Structural Opportunities and Adding Value,” urged the KU8+ Consortium to deepen its local impact before expanding regionally.
Professor Babalola stressed that higher institutions must prioritise producing graduates who can tackle real societal problems rather than merely awarding certificates.
With participants drawn from several leading universities, the conference further reinforced the KU8+ Consortium’s commitment to redefining tertiary education through shared vision, innovation, and purposeful collaboration.
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