Student representatives from universities across Africa converged at the University of Lagos, Akoka on Monday for the 3rd UMOJA African Students Leaders Network Summit 2023.
The week-long event hosted by the University of Lagos was organised for the generation to come with the aim to align the work of the African Students Leaders Network with the African Union Agenda 2023.
The summit was also to celebrate Nelson Mandela International Day.
The event with the theme: ‘Technology and Culture Preservation’ according to the facilitators was organised with the aim of bringing students together across the continent on matters concerning the role of technology in preserving Africa’s rich culture.
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It was also to promote collaborations among students’ leaders from African universities in a bid to proffer solutions to challenges across the African Continent among others.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola said youth is the actualisation of the Agenda 2063, therefore it is important they collaborate to bring solutions to challenges facing the continent.
She disclosed that Africa has 1279 accredited universities, commending the student leaders’ network for taking the lead to discuss the way forward.
“We are glad to add new universities to this leadership network. 75 per cent of Africa’s population are the youths. The youths are the hope we have to achieve the Africa we want,” she said.
She assured them of the university’s support at all time, adding that she is looking forward to participants coming up with concrete steps or idea that will solve challenges facing Africa.
The Dean of Student Affairs, UNILAG Musa Obalola, speaking on the contextualisation of the UMOJA summit said the event was aimed at collaboration with other African countries particularly the youths to proffer solutions to emerging problems on the continent.
L-R: Director, Office of International Relations, Partnership and Prospect, UNILAG, Prof Ismail Ibraheem; Professor of Law, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, Peter McEleavy; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development Services, UNILAG, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, and the Dean of Students’ Affairs, UNILAG, Prof Musa Obalola.
He noted that the summit will encourage collaboration for solutions and promote good governance and ethical leadership among student leaders.
He added that the summit seeks to encourage the use of digital platforms as a tool to connect student leaders in Africa to share ideas, information, and research for the development of Africa.
“We also want to see how African countries can benefit from the fourth industrial revolution.”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Developmental Services, UNILAG, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa said due to the impact of colonialism, Africa has not had the opportunity to evolve in the way that it could have over the years.
She said that although the traditional culture is constantly evolving and getting modified, “we use technology to preserve and communicate our culture to be invigorated.”
On Mandela Day, the Professor of Law said Nelson Mandela is a huge emphasis for leadership in the continent and it was because of what he stood for “that we conceptualize this to celebrate him alongside all the student leaders from across Africa.
“The idea is to begin to take on the person of Mandela lessons from his life, his ideology, his philosophies, what he stood for, and become people of character of integrity.
The Director of the Institute of Africa and Diaspora Studies (IADS), UNILAG, Muyiwa Falaiye in his presentation on the theme of the summit,’ Technology and Culture Preservation’ told participants that as young budding career scholars it is their turn to challenge the stereotypes about the capacity of Africans to develop technology fit to solve problems of her environment.
“It is also your time to question those who challenge the capacity of African reasons the way it is logical for the state.
“It is our turn and time to create the environment that enable younger generation to be able to feel themselves, create synergies among themselves, create meetings such as this and challenge those that has claimed that African cannot fend for themselves,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Busisiwe Dlamini from the South Africa Consulate General in Lagos said the relationship between South Africa and Nigeria extends to academics, “it is cultural, real diplomacy, public diplomacy.”
She said the summit is not just about South Africa and Nigeria’s collaborations, but it’s also about Africa, achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and achieving the UN SDGs.
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