British Council convened a high-level edition of its flagship GREAT Talks Initiative at Baze University to foster sustainable knowledge exchange and leverage global partnerships to address pressing local challenges, underscoring the institution’s strong reputation for academic excellence and international engagement.
The symposium brought together scholars, researchers and students to explore avenues for deeper collaboration between Nigerian academia and leading United Kingdom institutions.
Participants emphasised the importance of cross-border research cooperation, particularly in tackling Nigeria’s socio-economic and environmental challenges. Papers presented during the sessions were described as both academically rigorous and directly relevant to national development priorities.
Delivering a keynote address, Abdullahi Ahmed of the University of Manchester spoke on renewable energy investment decisions under climate uncertainty, outlining strategies for managing financial and environmental risks associated with the transition to cleaner energy amid climate variability.
In another presentation, Keiran Hunt of the University of Reading examined the application of artificial intelligence in forecasting weather-driven electricity demand in Nigeria, highlighting the potential of AI-driven solutions to enhance grid stability and improve energy distribution efficiency.
The event also featured an interactive plenary session, enabling participants to engage directly with speakers on the practical applications of their research. Organisers noted that the strong turnout and active participation reflected growing interest in international academic collaboration.
The GREAT Talks Initiative is expected to pave the way for future joint research projects and institutional partnerships between Nigerian universities and their UK counterparts.