KWASU Hosts KU8+ Conference as NUC, Scholars Push for Collaborative Reform in Nigerian Universities
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, has lauded the KU8+ Consortium as a transformative model for university collaboration in Nigeria, urging other institutions to emulate its innovative approach.
Speaking through a representative, Professor Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, at the opening of the 3rd KU8+ Consortium International Conference held on August 7, 2025, at Kwara State University, Malete, Professor Ribadu stressed the need for Nigerian universities to evolve in response to rising financial constraints and rapid technological shifts.
“Nigerian universities must rethink their priorities and align with new realities. Collaborations like KU8+ that pool resources and expertise will drive the kind of graduates our economy needs,” he said.
The KU8+ Consortium comprises leading public universities collaborating to foster academic excellence, innovation, and sustainable solutions to national challenges.
Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, expressed the state government’s continued support for such initiatives, affirming that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration remains committed to investing in higher education.
“This consortium proves that partnership leads to excellence. Our government’s commitment aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in the area of human capital development,” she noted.
Chairman of the occasion and Pro-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, said the rise of KU8+ signals Kwara’s growing influence as an educational hub, capable of producing talent for national development.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, who served as Chief Host, stated that no institution can succeed in isolation, highlighting the importance of joint efforts in teaching, research, and innovation.
“National development hinges on the kind of cooperation this consortium represents. KU8+ is a practical response to the changing landscape of higher education,” he said.
The host Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh, said the conference theme, Innovation and Sustainability of Higher Education in a Changing World, reflects the consortium’s long-term vision to collaborate, innovate and make meaningful societal impact.
In their keynote papers, Professor Olutayo Adesina of the University of Ibadan and the University of Manchester, and Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola, former Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, challenged the consortium to become more grounded in solving local problems before expanding regional influence.
Professor Adesina urged a focus on practical, problem-solving education, saying, “We must mainstream the ‘Think and Do’ model into the system to build relevance and value at the grassroots.”
Professor Babalola echoed the same sentiment, advocating for a university system that consistently produces graduates with the skills to address Nigeria’s complex challenges.
The KU8+ International Conference brought together academics, policymakers, and researchers from across Nigeria and beyond, setting the tone for a renewed approach to higher education reform through strategic collaboration.
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