NUC Lauds KU8+ Consortium as Pioneering Initiative in Nigerian Higher Education

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, has commended the KU8+ Consortium for its pioneering efforts in fostering collaboration among Nigerian universities.

Delivering the keynote address at the 3rd KU8+ Consortium International Conference at Kwara State University, Malete, Professor Ribadu noted that the consortium's initiative is worthy of emulation by other universities in Nigeria.

The KU8+ Consortium has demonstrated the potential for local partnerships to produce graduates capable of transforming the nation's economic landscape through resource pooling and shared expertise.

Professor Ribadu emphasized the need for Nigerian universities to rethink and expand their core values to meet current realities and societal expectations, particularly in the face of limited financing and rapid technological changes.

The conference, themed "Innovation and Sustainability of Higher Education in a Changing World," featured lead papers from renowned academics, including Professor Olutayo C. Adesina and Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola. The discussions centered on the importance of higher education institutions focusing on producing graduates with the abilities to solve societal challenges and creating structural opportunities that add value to the local community.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, reaffirmed the state government's commitment to strengthening tertiary institutions through strategic investments and policy reform. The Pro-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, described the consortium's emergence as proof of Kwara State's growing role as a hub for human capital development.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, emphasized that no university can thrive in isolation and that national development depends on constructive collaboration in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement. The host of the conference, Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh, stressed that innovation and sustainability remain central to the KU8+ Consortium's mission.