The Secretary General of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU) and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has called on universities in West Africa to prioritise innovative skills and ideas as alternatives for solving societal problems through research.

Prof. Egbewole made the call penultimate Saturday (11th April 2026) at the AWAU Monthly Colloquium Series held via Zoom.

He stressed that research must go beyond academic exercises and deliver measurable impact capable of addressing pressing societal challenges.

The Vice Chancellor noted that the initiative forms part of AWAU's efforts at strengthening research culture, promoting innovation, and enhancing regional collaboration amongst universities in West Africa.

He, therefore, called for researches that address local development needs, promote Africa-centred epistemologies, and challenge dominant Eurocentric frameworks.

In his keynote address, Prof. Gerard Kamga, Programme Director, Research and Postgraduate Studies at the Faculty of Law, Free State Centre for Human Rights, outlined strategies for driving innovation in research.

He emphasised the need for structural reforms to foster creativity and progress, including the establishment of interdisciplinary hubs and the adoption of flexible funding models to reduce administrative constraints on researchers.

Prof. Kamga also highlighted the importance of a cultural shift within academia, where curiosity is encouraged, failure is seen as a pathway to discovery, and diverse research methodologies are embraced.

He further stressed the need to "decolonise" knowledge production by promoting Africa-centred perspectives and supporting locally driven research agenda.

According to him, capacity building through cutting-edge training, mentorship, and workshops would equip researchers with the skills needed to address complex challenges.

The keynote speaker added that impactful research must address inequality, influence policy formulation, and actively engage communities.

He noted that strong research cultures thrive on international partnerships, industry collaboration, and community engagement, which are essential for producing meaningful and sustainable solutions.

Prof. Kamga also pointed out that incentive and evaluation systems play a crucial role in fostering innovation. He observed that traditional metrics such as publication counts and journal rankings often hinder innovation. He called for systems that reward originality, impact, collaboration, and public engagement.

The colloquium attracted scholars from various institutions, including the Vice Chancellor of Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Prof. Rasheed Gbenga Jimoh; the Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University; Ilorin, Prof. Lateef Folorunso Oladimeji; the Vice Chancellor of the University of Offa, Prof. Kazeem Gbolagade and the Vice Chancellor of Thomas Adewunmi University, Oko, Prof. Francisca Oladipo.