Sanwo-Olu urges overhaul of higher education systems across Africa

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has emphasised the urgent need to rethink African higher education.

He stressed this at the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) launch in Bristol.

Sanwo-Olu further called for a shift towards making learning more entrepreneurial, practical, and connected to real-world challenges.

The Governor’s emphasis was disclosed in a statement he shared via his X handle on Friday, May 23.

The statement reads: “At the launch of the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) in Bristol, I shared why we need to rethink higher education across the continent. It’s time to make learning more entrepreneurial, practical, and connected to the real world.

“In Lagos, we’ve seen what’s possible when young people are given the tools to thrive, whether in tech, the arts, or enterprise. CASET represents a powerful new platform to scale this impact across Africa.

“We recognise the power of partnership as a way of overcoming the challenges we face. Working alongside my team over the last six years, particularly through public-private partnerships, we have delivered transformational infrastructure, including a brand new and expanding metro rail system, the largest rice processing mill in Africa, West Africa’s most modern seaport, and an extensive system of modern transport networks seamlessly integrating road, rail and water.

“For us in Lagos, ambition and audacity are signature features for all that we do. We seek to build at scale to positively transform the lives and livelihoods of our people. This is why the vision and mission of CASET, to empower people and communities in Africa, resonates deeply with me.

“As Patron, I’m proud to support this mission. Together with universities, governments, businesses, and global partners, we can build an Africa defined not by its challenges, but by its energy, innovation, and ambition.”