By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

As part of activities commemorating its golden jubilee, the University of Ilorin, through its Centre for International Education (CIE), held the 1st International Conference on Internationalisation with the theme: “Globalising Education: Strategies, Challenges, and Sustainability.” The three-day event kicked off with an opening ceremony at the University Auditorium on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The landmark gathering brought together distinguished academics, policymakers, diplomats, and international partners to explore transformative ideas and practical strategies for advancing global education within the African and global context.

Declaring the conference open, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, who also doubles as the Chairman of the KU8 Consortium of Universities in Kwara State, emphasised the University’s pivotal role over the past 50 years in promoting academic cooperation, innovation, and global knowledge exchange.

The Vice Chancellor, who titled his speech “Reinventing Multidisciplinary Scholarship for Sustainable Global Education,” advocated for research efforts in global education to embrace a multidisciplinary approach, which he described as the hallmark of scholarship in the 21st century.

The Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence stated that the multidisciplinary approach is about integrated, interconnected, and interdependent models or methodologies that can bring scholars together across disciplines for the purpose of promoting original, incisive, developmental, and sustainable research efforts,adding that, global collaboration will break down traditional models while embracing community engagement with stakeholders.

While calling for the permanent dismantling of the silo relationship between international institutions of higher learning, the Unilorin Vice Chancellor said global education finds theoretical solace in the intellectual fanfare of internationalisation,hence, he said that the silo between global education and international education is temporary. “Let us break it with all sense of honesty as we move forward”, he stressed.

He added that, “The essence is for inclusive education, and the current direction is the breaking down of barriers of ‘my father’s farm as the biggest farm’ to accommodate the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which include zero hunger, quality education, decent work and economic growth, sustainable cities and communities, and partnerships for the goals”.

While noting that the University of Ilorin, which has been adjudged the most sought-after University in Nigeria for the 10th consecutive year, was poised to globalize education, the astute administrator said, “Seventy-two hours ago, University of Ilorin undergraduate Kazeem Sanusi, a 400-level Mathematics student, set a new Guinness World Record for the ‘Longest Mathematics Lesson,’ spanning 31 hours, 42 minutes, and 54 seconds; and two days ago, we made history in this University through the successful inaugural public lecture hosted by the Institute of Translation Arts.

“My joy is that the connection between setting global records in Mathematics tutorials and translation in the digital era is equally linked to the evincing positivism that can be found in global education, and in its corollary of international education. As a University, we are poised to globalize education”.he added

In his welcome address, the Director of the Centre for International Education, Professor Lateef Onireti Ibraheem, commended the University for its strong internationalisation agenda, which has positioned it as a leading hub for academic partnerships and global engagement.

The Keynote Address was delivered by His Excellency, Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Secretary General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, who provided deep insights into the imperatives of international collaboration, economic integration, and innovation in higher education.

His forward-looking message inspired renewed commitment to international best practices and reinforced the University’s aspiration for global relevance.

He called for strategic partnerships between leading international universities and research institutions to facilitate the global exchange of knowledge, innovation, and best practices.

The D-8 Secretary-General, who noted the need for universities, especially those in the Global South, to work collaboratively in advancing quality education, cross-border research, and innovation, cited Malaysia, Türkiye, and Egypt, all D-8 member countries, as hubs of international education and student mobility.

According to him, tapping into the experience and resources of these countries would provide fresh opportunities for students and scholars of the University of Ilorin to enhance their learning and research capacities.

Amb. Imam, who also stated the importance of investing in digital infrastructure to drive inclusive and globally competitive education, encouraged the university to expand its digital reach by ensuring high-speed internet access, deploying smart classroom technologies, and integrating AI-driven educational tools to improve teaching, learning, and research beyond the physical campus.

While acknowledging Unilorin’s impressive strides, the D-8 Secretary-General challenged the university and other African higher institutions to look beyond traditional educational models and embrace global collaboration.

He, however, cautioned that the path to globalizing education is fraught with challenges, especially in Africa. Imam identified key issues such as resource constraints, underfunding, and infrastructural deficits that limit faculty training and research development. Noting that, they are further exacerbated by the migration of skilled academics, which depletes the intellectual capital of many African universities.

The D-8 Secretary General also highlighted the continent’s widening technological divide, lamenting that while digital transformation is redefining higher education globally, many African institutions remain unable to fully participate due to unreliable internet connectivity and limited access to modern digital tools.

He said these limits opportunities for virtual learning, distance education, and participation in global academic networks.

Despite these challenges, the Secretary-General praised Unilorin’s commitment to academic excellence, noting that several of its specialized research centers align closely with D-8’s development goals. He mentioned the University’s Sugar Research Institute, which he said has the potential to enhance the sugar value chain within D-8 member states through innovation in crop cultivation, processing, and by-product development.

He referenced a recent agreement between Nigeria’s National Sugar Development Council and SINOMACH of China for a sugarcane project capable of producing one million metric tonnes of sugar annually, a development he said Unilorin is well-positioned to support through research and training.

In the same vein, Amb. Imam highlighted the Technical & Entrepreneurship Centre of Unilorin as a vital partner in D-8’s drive to boost Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He disclosed that the D-8, in partnership with the Nigerian government, has concluded plans to launch a D-8 SME Center in Abuja, to be hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

He expressed optimism that the Technical & Entrepreneurship Centre could play a significant role in cross-border capacity-building for SMEs.

The conference featured a high-level panel session chaired by Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. The panel comprised notable international figures, including:
His Excellency Mohsen Antit, Ambassador of Tunisia to Nigeria
Ms Katarina Lage-Ramos, Head of Delegation from the United States Embassy
Professor R. Krishnamurthy, University of Uka Tardia, India
Professor Daniel Kitaw Azene, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Mr. John Paul Okwiri, CEO, Konza Technopolis Development Authority, Kenya
Professor Christoph Vatter of Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany, joined virtually and delivered an in-depth presentation on “Globalisation, Quality, and Institutional Readiness.” He stressed the need for African universities to raise their standards in academic quality, research productivity, student success, and operational efficiency to attract meaningful international collaborations.

The second workshop session was anchored by Dr. Quinter Onyango of the University of the Free State, South Africa, who facilitated discussions on best practices in academic exchange and institutional partnerships.

The event drew participation from Vice Chancellors of member institutions in the KU8 Consortium, delegates from the University of Abuja, and numerous other stakeholders from the higher education and diplomatic communities. Also in attendance were notable traditional leaders from neighbouring communities.

A major highlight of the conference was a colourful cultural display by the University’s international students from Cameroon, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Niger, showcasing the University’s rich diversity and commitment to international unity.

The opening day concluded with a welcome dinner in honour of the delegates and guests where the Ambassador of Cuba, Her Excellency Moroam Morales Palmero delivered the dinner speech. The second day of the conference featured multiple paper presentations from scholars across Africa and beyond.

The International Conference on Internationalisation marks a significant milestone in the University’s 50-year journey, reaffirming its dedication to global engagement, inclusive learning, and sustainable development in higher education.