LAGOS State University, LASU, on Monday, July 15, 2024, joined two other Lagos Universities – the University of Lagos, UNILAG, and Pan-Atlantic University to sign a cooperative agreement with Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
The agreement, which was signed at a brief ceremony held at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos, is aimed at establishing a framework for collaboration and cooperation between the four universities to advance women's education, STEM Education, creative industries and faculty, and students international exchange programmes in mutually beneficial ways.
The agreement signing followed a roundtable conversation among the leaders of the four institutions, including Dr Helene Gayle of Spelman College, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola of the University of Lagos, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM of Lagos State University, and Prof. Enase Okonedo of the Pan-Atlantic University.
The LASU Vice-Chancellor and Pan-Atlantic University Vice-Chancellor were represented by Prof. Adenike Boyo (Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration) and Prof. Olusola Oni, respectively.
The intellectual dialogue among the Vice-Chancellors touched on how individual Universities can leverage the partnerships to open up opportunities for their faculties and students in today’s world.
According to Prof. Olatunji-Bello, LASU is set to explore the partnership to bolster its Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education (ACEITSE), its newly established School of Tourism, Films, Performing Arts and Cultural Studies, and the Disabilities Support Office, amongst others.
Earlier in her address, Dr Gayle said that the partnership is significant as it marks the 50th anniversary, a groundbreaking partnership between Lagos State and Atlanta Georgia in the USA. She also revealed that the collaboration was conceived following a decision by the US Presidential Advisory Committee to promote educational exchange programmes between Africa and the diaspora.
“It is our hope that our students from Africa can change the world by better understanding the world through the kind of exposure that this partnership offers,” she said.
The programme had in attendance the US Consul General in Nigeria, Mr Richard M. Mills, Jnr., some members of the US Presidential Advisory Committee, leaders from other Universities in and around Lagos, and staff and students from partnering Universities.