The UWI’s Historic Hosting of Nigerian Vice-Chancellors

Last week, the Caribbean and Africa struck another high note in their ongoing bridge‑building agenda. A team of 20 recently appointed Vice-Chancellors arrived at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Headquarters in Jamaica from Nigeria, hosted by Vice‑Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.

The initiative originated in a request from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) as part of its plan to expose emerging university leaders to The UWI’s success and legacy in dealing with the relations between national and global issues. All universities, especially in the Global South, are forging survival and sustainable strategies in the international higher education sector.

Nigeria has some 140 public universities and a similar number of private institutions. The UWI is recognised as a highly successful and respected brand, ranked by the Times Higher Education (THE) among the top 3.6% of the world’s 33,000 universities.

The universities converged for an Africa–Caribbean Higher Education Summit from February 10-12. It featured robust conversations between UWI leaders and their guests, focusing on themes such as strategic planning, research for development, curriculum quality and teaching, preparations for global competitive ranking, achieving greater impact with less financing, and promoting visionary leadership.

Describing the gathering as “a spiritual moment,” during the opening ceremony, Vice‑Chancellor Beckles reflected on the deeply rooted ties linking the regions, noting that “Nigeria has had a profound intellectual impact on the development of this university” and that The UWI “cannot tell its history without connecting to those fundamental moments.”

Professor Andrew Haruna, Secretary-General of the CVCNU acknowledged both the opportunities and challenges within Nigeria’s system and referenced the longstanding contributions of Caribbean scholars to Nigerian intellectual life. He expressed confidence that this engagement would spark new models of transnational education and deepen sectoral ties.

In a demonstration of further deepening ties with the Nigerian delegation, Dr. Gervan Fearon, President of George Brown Polytechnic and a distinguished member of the West Indian diaspora in Canada, delivered the feature address. Dr. Fearon called for the advancement of purpose-driven universities and strongly advocated for indigenous publishing, underscoring its critical role in amplifying research from the Global South on the international stage.

The enthusiastic participation of all Principals and Pro Vice-Chancellors of The UWI throughout the three-day event reflected an unwavering dedication to the ONE UWI vision and cultivated a vibrant atmosphere of collaboration and meaningful dialogue, with each leader making a significant contribution to the exchange of ideas.

On closing day, tasked with delivering concluding remarks, Professor C. Justin Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The UWI Five Islands Campus, underscored the strategic significance of the partnership, saying, “South-South collaboration is not a consolation prize.It is a strategic imperative…The solutions to the challenges facing developing nations will increasingly come from institutions like ours—working together, learning from one another, and refusing to wait for permission to lead.”

End.

Notes to the Editor

Related News: The UWI Hosts Landmark Africa–Caribbean Higher Education Summit with Nigerian Vice-Chancellors

High resolution photos can be accessed here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKy8i

Photo captions:

DSC 3909
(Left to Right): UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor, of Global Affairs Ms. Sandrea Maynard; Chancellor Dr. Dodridge D. Miller; Assistant Secretary-General Dr. Sylverina Olaghere; Secretary-General of the CVCNU Professor Andrew Haruna; Vice-Chancellor of The UWI Professor Sir Hilary Beckles; Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic–Industry Partnerships and Planning, and Principal of The UWI Five Islands Campus, Professor Justin Robinson.

DSC 4000
All participants of the Africa–Caribbean Higher Education Summit gather at The UWI Regional Headquarters following three days of high-level dialogue on higher education leadership, collaboration, and global competitiveness.

DSC 4019
Vice-Chancellor of The UWI Professor Sir Hilary Beckles along with members of the Nigerian delegation engage with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian High Commission to Jamaica, Mrs. Bintu Bwala Ekikor during the opening day of the Africa–Caribbean Higher Education Summit.

DSC 4533
Dr. Gervan Fearon, President of George Brown Polytechnic in Canada, delivers the keynote address, urging universities to advance purpose‑driven leadership and champion indigenous knowledge and publishing across the Global South.

DSC 4592
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Five Islands Campus, Professor C. Justin Robinson, delivers closing reflections on the strategic importance of Africa–Caribbean collaboration, emphasizing that “South–South cooperation is a strategic imperative” for global higher education advancement.

About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region.

Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus, along with international centres in partnership with universities across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the leading university in the Caribbean, it is home to the largest pool of intellect and expertise in the region, dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing both the Caribbean and the wider world.

Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE’s prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This recognition has also springboarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISD), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development.

The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]