The Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics (ASE) the Pan-African University of Excellence Abuja, Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji, has urged Nigerian universities to collaborate in confronting emerging global and national challenges that define the 21st century.
Professor Adedimeji made the call on Thursday, June 26, 2025, while delivering his address titled “Ideas Rule the World” at the fourth Public Lecture of the university. The lecture, themed “The 21st Century Nigerian University: Pitfalls and Pathways”, was delivered by Professor Moses Ochonu of Vanderbilt University, USA.
Citing a study by the University of Lincoln, Adedimeji identified ten grand challenges of the century: shifting economic powers, living in a global society, lack of foresight, technological disruptions, migration and mobility (notably the Nigerian Japa syndrome), conflict and war, civic disaffection, widening inequality, environmental degradation, and changing social norms and identities.
He emphasized that confronting these issues requires functional and responsive university systems. “Unlike the eagle that hunts alone, universities must synergise,” he said, while calling for a Triple-Helix partnership model involving the government, academia, and industry. “One can travel fast alone but can only travel far together,” he added.
Using the metaphor of the eagle that dropped a tortoise from a height to crack it open, he encouraged Nigerians to turn obstacles into opportunities, noted that embracing challenges is key to national progress.
In his lecture, Professor Ochonu lamented the growing provincialism in Nigerian universities, which he said stems from the erosion of the cosmopolitan ideals that define quality higher education. He decried academic inbreeding and called for reforms, including the institutionalisation of a Student Bill of Rights and mechanisms to reward excellent teachers.
The event attracted key stakeholders in the Nigerian university system, including the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, and the Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Professor Andrew Haruna, who both gave goodwill messages.
Also in attendance were Vice Chancellors and representatives of universities, scholars, education advocates, and members of the public who engaged actively in the discourse.
