Hopes are high that the formation of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU) would better the lot of ivory towers of learning in the sub-region.

AWAU was formed last week when Vice-Chancellors of universities from Ghana, Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire and their Nigerian counterparts gathered at the University of Lagos for two days to discuss the way forward.

All those present were in favour of an association through which they could exchange ideas that would lead to the growth of universities in the sub-region.

At the forum, the host Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe noted that the formation of the body would help to raise African universities in the world ranking pedestal.

He urged stakeholders to be committed to the grounding of the body so that the years of marginalisation and paucity of funds resulting from lack of organisation would become a thing of the past.

He believed that working in unity under one body, would help member-universities to attract loans/grants from their counterparts in the developed world.

Strengthening the case for the formation of AWAU, the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof Musa Abdullahi said it would bridge the communication gap between Francophone and Anglophone universities in the sub-region.

Abdullahi, who is also the Executive Secretary, Committee of Pro-Chancellors (CPC) of Nigerian universities, said that the lack of communication between institutions in Francophone and Anglophone countries was first noticed at a meeting in Adelaide, Australia where the idea of forming AWAU was muted.

A constitution was drafted for the body, which would be considered at a later date by the national associations of Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Principals and universities in the sub-region.

A communiqué, signed by the VC, University of Ilorin and Co-chairman, Constitution Drafting Committee, Prof Samsudeen O. O. Amali and his Ghanaian counterpart, Prof Mireku-Gyimah, (VC, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa) was issued at the end of the meeting.

It stated amongst others that:

• The new association recognises and will collaborate with the AAU and its constitution;

• AWAU will also collaborate with other sub-regional and international grouping such as the South African Regional Association (SARUA), the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and Universities of United Kingdom (UUK)