Kenyan Envoy Delivers 7th Special Lecture at Nasarawa State University, Keffi

The Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Ambassador Isaac Parashina, delivered the 7th edition of Nasarawa State University, Keffi’s (NSUK) Special Lecture Series on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

The event, held at the S.B. Mohammed Auditorium, School of Postgraduate Studies, featured a lecture titled “Leveraging Education as a Diplomatic Capital: Pathways for Strengthening Kenya–Nigeria Collaboration.”

In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman (Fellow UNESCO, ACLS, FIIFP, CBER), expressed gratitude to the High Commissioner for honoring the invitation and emphasized the transformative role of education in driving national and global development.

“Today, we celebrate the power of education as a driver of national development,” she stated, stressing that innovative partnerships and shared visions remain vital for global progress.

Delivering his lecture, Ambassador Parashina described education as “a powerful instrument of diplomacy, development, and international cooperation,” noting that it fosters shared understanding and provides the intellectual foundation to address Africa’s collective challenges.

He cited initiatives such as the Pan-African University system and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as examples linking education with innovation, mobility, and economic growth.

The envoy outlined five key pathways for strengthening Kenya–Nigeria academic collaboration: institutional linkages through joint programs and exchanges; joint research on shared challenges like climate change and food security; digital learning networks for inclusion; integration of educational cooperation into formal bilateral structures; and sustained policy alignment to ensure long-term partnerships.

Ambassador Parashina reaffirmed that education serves as a tool of soft power capable of deepening bilateral and continental ties through knowledge, trust, and mutual respect. He described Kenya and Nigeria as “brother nations bound by shared aspirations and immense potential.”

Registrar of the university, Dr. Bala Isyaka Ahmed II, delivered the vote of thanks, commending the High Commissioner for his insightful address and praising the Vice-Chancellor for her continued dedication to academic excellence.

The event concluded with the presentation of university souvenirs to the High Commissioner and group photographs to mark the occasion.