Namibian High Commissioner Visits UNILAG, Seeks Closer Ties

By Charles Maduka

The Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Humphrey Geiseb, visited the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Folasade Ogunsola, on Friday, August 16, 2024.The purpose of his visit included seeking closer cooperation between both countries’ educational institutions.

Mr. Geiseb was welcomed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics & Research), Professor Bola Oboh, at the Vice-Chancellor’s office. During the visit, he expressed his desire to foster stronger ties with UNILAG, emphasizing the benefits of mutual learning.

“Compared to the two public universities we have in Namibia, the University of Lagos is bigger in number, size, and institutional history,” he said in his remarks. “You are more accomplished in terms of international exposure and experience and we will be glad to learn from you. You are the obvious leaders here and it will be our delight to follow you closely.”

Professor Oboh extended the warm greetings of the Vice Chancellor, welcoming the idea of collaboration. She highlighted UNILAG’s commitment to working with universities of the Global South and expressed the university’s readiness to partner with the University of Namibia and Namibia University of Science and Technology in various areas.

“Here at the University of Lagos, we are very much interested in South-South cooperation, and we will do our best to see the fruition of this proposed collaboration. Since our initial contact in 2019, there has been a lull, but we are now ready to fast-track things with our Office of International Relations, Prospects and Partnerships. In terms of training, research, faculty and student exchange, there are a number of things that we can do together and for each other. We are very willing,” she said.

DVC Oboh used the visit to invite Mr. Geiseb and representatives of the two Namibian universities to the upcoming International Week of the University of Lagos, which is scheduled for October 2024.

Both leaders discussed other areas of mutual interests between their respective countries, highlighting the possibility of cultural exchanges. According to the High Commissioner, “there is so much that we do not see of each other’s culture.”