| By Sandra Ikegwuruka.
The delegates with Babcock University officers and President/Vice-Chancellor Prof Afolarin Ojewole (middle). Left is Senior Vice President Academics, Prof Jonathan Nwosu.
Dean of Education and Humanities, Prof Olubunmi Idowu presents a souvenir to Dr. Mafemani Joseph Baloyi as Prof Afolarin Ojewole and Prof. Foluso Ojewole watch with interest.
Prof. Tolani Williams presents a Babcock souvenir to Prof Towande Runhare (2nd right). With them are President/Vice-Chancellor, Afolarin Ojewole and Associate Vice President, RIIC Prof. Foluso Ojewole.
Strategic Partnership: (front row l -r): Prof Foluso Ojewole, Dr. Mafemani Joseph Baloyi, Prof Olubunmi Idowu, Prof Towande Runhare, Dr. Theodore Dickson and Dr. Ngozi Okata with other faculty members.
Babcock University has taken a major step in strengthening intra-African academic collaboration by hosting a delegation from the University of Venda (UNIVEN), South Africa.
The two-man team, led by Prof. Tawanda Runhare, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, and Dr. Mafemani Baloyi, Faculty Manager, visited the Nigerian institution under the coordination of Babcock’s Office of Research, Innovation and International Collaboration (RIIC), headed by Prof. Foluso Ojewole.
During the visit, Babcock’s President/Vice Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole, emphasized the importance of mutual support between African nations. “Nigeria has greatly assisted South Africa in times past. It is now time for South Africa to reciprocate by supporting Nigeria in the educational sector,” he said.
The discussions focused on moving beyond signed agreements to practical outcomes. Both universities explored joint grant proposals to access larger funding opportunities and tackle shared challenges in education, humanities, and community development.
Prof. Runhare underscored the intent of the partnership: “We are here to move from the ink on the MOU to tangible outcomes that will benefit our students and faculty, especially in the School of Education and Humanities, and the broader communities we serve.”
The collaboration, which builds on years of cordial relations, now enters a phase of active implementation. With both institutions pledging to embrace the African philosophy of Ubuntu — the belief that the success of one is the triumph of all — the partnership signals a new era of academic solidarity across the continent.