The Lagos State University (LASU), the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) have signed an educational cooperative partnership agreement with Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, to advance women’s education and strengthen STEM education.
The partnership intends to build a strong foundation for collaboration among the four universities, with an emphasis on creative industries, faculty and student exchange programmes, and mutually beneficial educational projects.
The event, held at UNILAG, was attended by Richard Mills Jr., US Consul-General in Nigeria, members of the US Presidential Advisory Committee, officials from various universities in and around Lagos, and staff and students from the partnering institutions.
This partnership, appropriately titled “Developing Partnerships between U.S. and Nigerian Institutions of Higher Education,” represents a significant milestone in educational cooperation and is expected to pave the way for numerous academic and cultural exchanges, enriching Nigeria’s educational landscape and beyond.
Prominent academic figures attended the signing ceremony, including UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof Folasade Ogunsola; LASU Vice-Chancellor Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, represented by LASU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Adenike Boyo; PAU Dean of the School of Management and Social Science, Prof Sola Oni; and Spelman College‘s Dr Helene Gayle.
Prof. Ogunsola, the chief host, emphasised the significance of this collaboration, hoping that it will build relations with the expatriate community and advance STEM education in the country.
“We hope to forge stronger ties with the diaspora community to foster a developmental drive that will engender the growth of STEM education in Nigeria.
“This will help to promote capacity building for faculties, improve collaborations, foster exchange opportunities, facilitate co-creation of curricula, and encourage multi-disciplinary research engagements,” she said.
Prof. Ogunsola highlighted UNILAG’s dedication to the programme, emphasising the university’s proactive approach to encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations and innovations.
This pledge, she continued, underlines UNILAG’s strategic focus on incorporating sophisticated technology and entrepreneurial skills into academic programmes, ensuring that students are prepared to face modern problems.
Prof. Olatunji-Bello expressed LASU’s enthusiasm for the partnership, particularly in terms of expanding its Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education.