In a remarkable display of international academic partnership, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in collaboration with Professors Without Borders (PROWIBO) hosted a transformative 5-day training programme themed “Empowering Digital Transformation: Leadership, Innovation & Sustainability” from Monday, July 21 to Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Faculty of Law.
The event brought together a stellar lineup of global facilitators, thought leaders, and education advocates who shared real-world insights and cutting-edge strategies to help participants – a composite of academic and non-teaching staff, and students – to navigate the digital age.
Opening with Purpose and Partnership
At the opening ceremony on Monday, the PROWIBO Coordinator at UNILAG, Prof. Blessing Anyikwa represented the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) and Host of the event, Professor Afolabi Lesi. She described the programme as “a timely intervention in aligning academic communities with the demands of an innovation-driven economy.”
She commended PROWIBO for its global outreach and consistent effort in democratizing access to quality education, noting that “digital transformation is not a luxury but an imperative for national progress.”
In her capacity as anchor person for PROWIBO at UNILAG and coordinator of the event, Professor Anyinkwa emphasised that the programme was not only about learning, but about sparking innovation and sustainable thinking in everyday academic practice.
Power-packed Sessions for Participants
The training featured power-packed sessions for all participants. Each morning, over three blocks of sessions, undergraduate participants were immersed in key areas such as:
- Social Entrepreneurship by Bob Eckhart
- Finance for Africa by Charlie Dove-Edwin
- Research Methods by Brieanne Beaujolais
These sessions, running across the five days, helped students sharpen their research inquiry, entrepreneurial vision, and financial literacy with hands-on case studies and interactive discussions.
Meanwhile, faculty and non-teaching staff benefited from afternoon workshops, including:
- AI Tools and Career Development with Dr. Oluseyi A.J. Sodiya
- Personal Branding and Purpose (Ikigai) led by Peter-Frank Haarmans
- Faculty Development & Global Classroom Engagement facilitated by Bob Eckhart
Dr. Sodiya’s session, in particular, drew strong interest for its practical relevance. “AI isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a powerful tool we must learn to wield ethically and effectively in education and career development,” he affirmed.
On personal branding, Peter-Frank Haarmans encouraged participants to think deeply about alignment between passion and productivity. “Your ‘Ikigai’ is the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for,” he said, urging academics to embrace purpose-driven teaching and leadership.
Closing with Confidence and Certificates
The 5-day programme concluded on Friday, July 25 on a celebratory note. Participants were full of gratitude to PROWIBO and beamed with pride as they received their certificates, having completed a week of intense learning, networking, and skill development.
Delivering the closing remarks, Prof. Blessing Anyikwa praised the commitment of facilitators and participants, saying, “This has not just been a training, it has been a mind-shift. We’ve challenged assumptions, reimagined roles, and built bridges across disciplines and continents. It is now incumbent on us to go out there and change the world with the new knowledge we have gained.”
She was also full of gratitude for the support of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, whose leadership she described as “inspiring and forward-looking”.
“Before, during, and at the conclusion of this event, our Vice-Chancellor gave us steady support. Every day of the training, a member of Management was here to give support, proving the importance that her leadership attached to the programme. Our successful hosting of the training is a credit to her determination to ensure that members of the UNILAG community are equipped to be future-ready; and for that, we shall always be grateful.”
Popular Nollywood actress, Kehinde Bankole, lit up the room with her appearance. In her brief address, she expressed gratitude for the privilege to be in the gathering and charged participants to always be willing to take the fullest advantage of traning opportunities, because they never know where it will take them.
A cross section of participants had words of gratitude for the organisers of the event. A Professor of Development Communication, Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika described the training as “my personal effectiveness and upskilling school”, while for Abdul-Hameed Olatunji”, a Year 3 Student of Economics, “the PROWIBO training has been a transformative experience for me. I am going away with new knowledge that would enhance my personal effectiveness in many areas of life.”
The initiative cements UNILAG’s role as a hub of forward-thinking academic innovation, while reinforcing PROWIBO’s mission to educate, inspire, and empower across borders.
Report: Isaiah Kumuyi
Photography: Joshua Michael
