Kaduna State University (KASU) recently hosted an online symposium titled “Global Synergy for Local Impact: Nigerian Academia at the Crossroad of Borderless Industry Collaboration”. Held on Monday, 28th April 2025, the event was organized by the University’s Committee for Inaugural Lectures, Workshop and Seminar under the directive of Management.
The Keynote Speaker, Dr. Obumneme Nwafor from Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, delivered an insightful address on fostering global partnerships for innovation and aligning academic institutions with evolving industry demands to enhance graduate employability. Quoting Albert Einstein on the value of open-mindedness, Dr. Nwafor emphasized the urgency for universities to adapt to contemporary changes to remain relevant and impactful.
In his presentation, Dr. Nwafor identified the persistent mismatch between academic training and industry requirements, often leading to post-graduation uncertainty. He stressed the need for academic curricula to evolve alongside industry advancements, with the aim of bridging the skills gap and preparing students for the global workforce.
Highlighting the growing global job market, he shared success stories of Nigerian graduates working remotely for international companies, reinforcing the need for graduates to acquire globally relevant skills. He advocated for partnerships with international experts to bridge knowledge and resource gaps within Nigerian academia.
Dr. Nwafor introduced the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) initiative, a model connecting academic institutions with businesses to drive innovation and solve industry challenges. He described how KTPs, through activities such as industry listening events and research roundtables, have been successfully implemented in developed countries and proposed their adoption within Nigerian universities to boost research and competitiveness.
Using the development of driverless cars as a case study, he showcased the collaborations between institutions like Stanford, MIT, and Berkeley, and companies such as Waymo and Tesla, demonstrating the transformative potential of academia-industry partnerships.
Additionally, Dr. Nwafor discussed the significance of multidisciplinary research partnerships, highlighting opportunities for local institutions to collaborate with international organizations to enhance capacity building, skill transfer, and solutions to local challenges. He concluded by announcing that several international research organizations have expressed interest in partnering with Kaduna State University.
The Guest Speaker, Heather Yovanoff from the Isle of Man, presented on Virtual Internships (VI), proposing a partnership to embed international remote internships into KASU’s academic programs. This initiative promises to significantly improve student employability outcomes by offering guaranteed placements with a network of over 18,000 companies across 80 countries within six weeks of enrollment.
Ms. Yovanoff emphasized that the internships, characterized by flexibility, professional coaching, weekly support, and strong global networking opportunities, would equip students with essential skills, boost confidence, and enhance career readiness. Drawing on successful outcomes from partnerships like the one with Botho University in Botswana, she highlighted the potential for improved graduate employability and institutional marketing for KASU.
To reinforce the University’s commitment to global collaboration and innovation, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Yushau I. Ango, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategy, Innovation and Service Delivery), Prof. Helen A. Andow, delivered brief but impactful remarks on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi I. Musa and Management, expressing strong support for the initiatives discussed and the readiness of KASU to foster these collaborations.
The symposium concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Prof. Bala Dogo, who appreciated all speakers, participants, and organizers for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed KASU’s dedication to driving impactful academia-industry partnerships for the benefit of students and society at large.
All praise is due to almighty Allah for this great achievement .
It’s very important infact, for my own observation.