Lagos State University (LASU) and University of Sierra Leone Strengthen Ties Through Collaborative Meeting

Lagos State University (LASU) and the University of Sierra Leone have embarked on a collaborative journey to deepen their existing ties. The partnership aims to enhance academic and research capabilities across various domains.

The development emerged from a meeting held at LASU’s Vice Chancellor’s Office, where the leadership of the University of Sierra Leone, led by Chancellor Dr. Margaret Gbanie and Vice Chancellor Prof. Aiah R. Lebbie, engaged with LASU’s management. Dr. Hakeem Akintoye, Deputy Centre Director of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education (ACEITSE), facilitated the meeting.

ACEITSE played a pivotal role in attracting new students to its postgraduate programs in 2023. Among these students were several foreign scholars, including staff and former students from the University of Sierra Leone. Their positive learning experiences encouraged LASU’s leadership to explore concrete areas of collaboration beyond the existing partnership.

Dr. Margaret Gbanie expressed gratitude for LASU’s welcoming academic environment, which supports University of Sierra Leone staff and students pursuing Masters and PhD programs at ACEITSE.

Visiting Vice Chancellor Prof. Aiah Lebbie emphasized the visit’s purpose: to strengthen the partnership by exploring new opportunities in ICT, distance learning, entrepreneurship, and exchange programs.

In a significant step toward enhancing academic cooperation, Lagos State University (LASU) and the University of Sierra Leone recently held an inter-varsity management meeting. The gathering aimed to deepen their existing relationship and explore new avenues for collaboration.

The Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, was unable to attend in person but delegated representation to Prof. Adenike Boyo, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration. Prof. Boyo expressed LASU’s enthusiasm for strengthening ties with the University of Sierra Leone. She emphasized that LASU’s faculty and staff possess exceptional expertise, and the university’s state-of-the-art facilities are well-suited to support the development goals of their Sierra Leonean counterparts.

During the meeting, both institutions discussed various areas of collaboration, including exchange programs for students, faculty, and administrative staff. The goal is to foster mutual learning and create opportunities for knowledge transfer. Prof. Boyo proposed drafting a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a roadmap for their partnership, outlining specific initiatives and responsibilities.

Key members of the University of Sierra Leone’s management team participated in the meeting, demonstrating their commitment to the collaboration. LASU’s principal officers were also present, joined by Prof. Kabir Akinyemi, Director of the Directorate of Linkages, Partnerships, and Collaboration, and Prof. Oluwatoyin Enikuomehin, Director of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).