Vice Chancellor of Botswana University, Professor David Norris has advocated the need for African universities to have a structure that promotes internationalisation.
Norris made this call at the International Study Abroad Fair (ISAF) 2024 with the theme: “Accessing Education Beyond Borders; Embracing Global Opportunities held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on Saturday.
Noting the demands of globalisation in today’s world, Norris said it had become imperative for African universities to embrace internationalisation so as to produce global products.
He stressed that African universities need to revive excellence by having specific policies and designing their curriculum such that they produce graduates who can fit into multiple societies and environments.
He said African universities should also spearhead the developmental efforts of the African Union (AU).
Though not against collaboration with the West, Norris said African universities should rather seek collaboration among themselves.
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The Botswana Vice Chancellor said African universities must believe in their innovativeness, appreciate their human capital and risk to the task of promoting Africa first.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, TPSeal Education UK, Tolu Eledan stressed that the fair was to promote that while Africans seek knowledge from the West, they should also look inwards.
She said Africans should desist from seeing themselves as consumers all the time, but also as creators.
Eledan said while people travel abroad for international education, they should also have a plan to return so as to bring back the knowledge gained abroad to better the African continent.
She enjoined government at all levels to apportion a sizeable portion of their budget to encourage research and spur those in the diaspora to return home.
On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, represented by state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Salihu Adelabu, said the government desired collaboration among universities in the form of exchange programmes.
He also said it is expected that when Nigerians acquire skills and knowledge abroad they come back home to better the country.
Makinde said the state was open for collaboration and targeted education for all citizens of the state by 2030.
Speaking, Chairman, Governing Council, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Professor Ayodeji Omole said African countries must further explore the era of globalisation in the aspects of education.
He said this was important to prevent a situation where African countries only buy finished products without contributing to global knowledge.
Drawing from his life experience, Director General, Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr Debo Akande said going abroad would enable people to have a rich skill set needed through life, but it was good to bring home such skills and knowledge to make Africa better.
The event featured various panel discussions around how Africans should go about seeking international education but bear in mind the need to give back to the continent.
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