UI Remains Active Partner in Continental, Global Collaborations - VC

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, has said the University is usually an active partner in continental and international collaborations that embody the essence of its mission.

Prof. Adebowale stated this at a special session of the Access Nigeria Research Summer School (ANRSS 2026).

He said the core mission of the University of Ibadan is to be a beacon of academic excellence and a catalyst for societal transformation, noting that hosting the Summer School is in fulfilment of its commitment to international partnerships.

The Vice-Chancellor described the ACCESS project, coordinated by Leipzig University, as more than a programme, but a bold vision for the future of Africa and a testament to what can be achieved through cross-border collaboration in addressing shared challenges.

He noted that the project's four pillars - Capacity Building, University-Business Linkage, Employability Research and the African German Entrepreneurship Academy - are critical interventions needed to address high unemployment among African graduates and unlock the continent's potential.

According to him, ACCESS is recognised as a leading EU-AU Research and Innovation success story, with about 50,000 Bachelor's, Master's and PhD students expected to benefit from innovative measures across partner institutions, thereby reshaping higher education in Africa.

Prof. Adebowale told participants, drawn from partner institutions across Africa, that the modern research landscape demands more than academic curiosity, adding that knowledge must go beyond the ivory tower to produce research that is rigorous, methodologically sound, impactful and fundable.

He expressed hope that by the end of the programme, students would have produced draft proposals and received detailed, personalised feedback from experienced academics, grant reviewers and programme officers, equipping them with practical skills to transform their ideas into reality.

He urged participants to use the opportunity to build relationships and networks that would shape Africa's research and innovation agenda.

In his remarks, the ACCESS Project Lead and former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Adebola B. Ekanola, said the theme of the summer school, Empowering the Next Generation of Researchers: From Inquiry to Impact, was carefully chosen to harness the power of collaboration, innovation and impact through research.

Prof. Ekanola acknowledged funding support from the DAAD through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and disclosed that the summer school was designed to run for ten days.

He added that the Consul-General of the German Embassy in Nigeria, Daniel Krull, was scheduled to deliver a keynote address on Strengthening German-Nigeria Relationship Through Research, with students from partner universities in Ghana, Tunisia, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and the Republic of Benin participating.