The 22nd Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities, COREVIP has begun in Windhoek, Namibia.
The event began with a call on researchers and scholars on the African continent to address challenges impeding productive research and tackle issues of ranking of universities on the continent.
Declaring COREVIP 2023 open, Namibian Minister of Higher Education, Innovation and Technology, Dr. Itah Kandji Murangi called for inclusive and quality education on the African continent.
Addressing participants at the conference, the Secretary General of the AAU, Professor Olushola Oyewole said that it was a collective responsibility of academics on the African continent to explore topics that would recalibrate institutional missions, re-imagine delivery modalities, promote internationalization, foster university industry linkages, address funding challenges as well as identify impediments, and propose innovative interventions that would guide the trajectory of African higher education towards sustained excellence.
According to him, “the 22nd COREVIP endeavors to place a sharp focus on excellence, successful intiatives, interventions, and outcomes within African higher education.”
Professor Oyewole acknowledged the narrative surrounding African higher education, saying it has been predominantly cast in a deficit mode, often highlighting crisis and shortcomings .
“Amidst these challenges and issues, pockets of excellence have emerged, predominantly at the institutional or departmental levels, offering valuable insights, experiences and perspectives on how the impediments have not only overcome but thawed.
“These success stories present a unique opportunity to shape a more reformed narrative in advancing African higher education on the African continent,” he said.
Questions On Africa’s Performance
The Vice Chancellor of the host University, University of Namibia, Profesdor Kenneth Matengu, raised questions on Africa’s performance on universities ranking, production of research and engagement of the power sector to boosting literacy on the continent.
He affirmed that there was relationship between ranking of universities and the economy of nations.
According to Matengu, enrolment in higher education in Africa was still low, that a huge number of Africans still not have access to higher education.
He called the attention of delegates to challenges affecting basic education on the continent saying pupils/students only have access to read when they are in school but are denied opportunity to literacy at home due to lack of electricity.
Matengu challenged the participants at COREVIP 2023 to interrogate these challenges and provide solutions towards the development of Africa.
Nigeria’s Team
Nigeria’s team to the conference was jointly led by Professor Peter Okebukola and the Registrar of the Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.
Also in the team are Professor Jegede, the Vice Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, Professor Bashir Galadanchi among many other renowned Professors and over 100 academic scholars from Nigerian universities.
The 4Day Event
The four day programme would feature keynote presentations, panel sessions, paper and poster presentations and exhibitions among several other engaging and learning opportunities.
It will also engage all key stakeholders as well as advocate for evidence-based and innovative approaches that address real problems confronting Africa.
The conference focuses majorly on excellence and successful initiatives, interventions and outcomes in African higher education by highlighting the key enabling elements within the sub themes.
The biennial conference will examine common concerns and priorities for the development of higher education in member institutions and the African continent.
The Association of African Universities, AAU, is the apex higher education organisation in Africa that functions as an organ of the AU and represents the voice of Africa’s higher education in regional and international bodies.
COREVIP 2023 is holding under the overall theme on issues of “Advancing Excellence in African Higher Education.”
Confidence Okwuchi
