Prof Olusola Oyewole Eulogizes Predecessor At Association of African Universities

Prof Olusola Oyewole Eulogizes Predecessor At Association of African Universities Abeokuta:By: Sina ODUNTAN Published, Wednesday, August 11, 2021 THE NEW SECRETARY-GENERAL of the Accra-Ghana based Association of African Universities has extolled Professor Etienne Ehouan Ehile, an Ivorian higher education leader, and outgoing Secretary-General of AAU as possessing sterling qualities and "big shoes to fill". Professor Olusola Oyewole's appointment as Secretary-General was announced by the outgoing President of the AAU Governing Board, Professor Antonio Orlando Quilambo (Rector of Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique). He would replace Prof Ehile, after leading the 54-year old Association for the past nine (9) years, effective 1st October this year. The new Secretary-General whose recruitment process was described as highly competitive said, in his acceptance remarks during the virtual extra-ordinary general conference, Prof Ehile saw the Association increasing its visibility, decentralizing its functions by the establishment of regional offices, diversifying the capacity building initiatives, identifying new partners, nurturing the relationship with the government of Ghana and continuing advocacy to various stakeholders to support higher education in Africa.  While thanking the AAU Governing Board for the opportunity given to him to serve, Prof. Oyewole said his vision would amplify the relevance of the Association of African Universities as the voice of Higher Education in Africa. He revealed that during his term of office, his top focus areas would include identifying and implementing strategies for sustaining the Association during and post COVID19 era and helping African Universities to overcome the challenges of COVID19. "My vision is to amplify the relevance of the Association of African Universities as the Voice of Higher Education in Africa” said Professor Oyewole in his acceptance remarks. Professor Oyewole said he deems the strategic collaborations and dialogues with development partners and other stakeholders as key for the successful future of the Association.  “Without strong partnerships and collaborations, the Association would be unable to achieve her grand mission of improving the quality of African Higher Education.  "Through honest, sincere, visionary, committed, transparent and disciplined leadership, I intend to build new strategic partnerships and revive old partnerships for the sustainability of the Association”, he added. Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole envisions the building of the next generation of academics in Africa, stronger intellectual engagement and the full engagement of AAU Member Universities – and African Universities in general through vibrant platforms for learning and knowledge exchange. Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole is a Nigerian professor of Food Science and Technology, specifically Food Microbiology and Biotechnology. He is not new to the Association because he has been a staff member of the Association in the past, as well as a Board Member and President of the Association.  He is the former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria and has also worked as a Senior Expert in Higher Education for the African Union Commission in Ethiopia. Professor Oyewole’s work experiences at the national, regional and continental levels have endowed him with a wealth of knowledge in coordinating multinational research and development programs. He therefore comes to the AAU fully equipped for the job ahead of him. .  Prof. Olusola Bandele Oyewole, new Secretary-General, Association of African Universities, AAU About the Association of African Universities, AAU The Association of African Universities is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization created by African Universities to promote cooperation among them on the one hand, and between them and the international academic community on the other. Created in 1967, the AAU is the voice of higher education in Africa. AAU aims to improve the quality of African higher education, and to strengthen its contribution to Africa's development by supporting the core functions of higher education institutions and facilitating critical reflection and consensus building on issues affecting higher education. It is headquartered in Accra, Ghana, has a membership of more than 400 HEIs and has three regional offices – North Africa Regional Office (NARO) in Cairo, Egypt; East Africa Regional Office (EARO) in Khartoum, Sudan; and North America Office (NAMO) in Washington DC, USA. The Association is the technical implementing arm of the African Union in higher education – with coverage and mandate across the language divide of Africa. We have influence in the francophone, anglophone, lusophone and arabophone regions. The AAU is the coordinating agency of the Higher Education Cluster of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) of the African Union Commission (AUC). Through our guidance, our member universities are responsible for implementing the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024) of the AUCqleadersh