By Damiete Braide
Nubian American Advanced College (NAAC), Lekki, Lagos, in collaboration with Johnson C Smith University (JCSU), USA, has strengthened academic ties between Nigeria and the United States through strategic partnerships during the recent International Edufair for Nigerian students held recently in Lagos.
In her address, Dr. Vallery Keyla, President of JCSU, underscored the importance of fostering meaningful international academic partnerships.
Her presence at the Edufair was not just symbolic but strategic, marking a new chapter in transcontinental academic engagement and offering a window of opportunity for Nigerian students to connect with one of America’s foremost institutions.
Jerome Griffin, President of NAAC, explained that the collaboration is also geared toward meeting the needs of Gen Z students, those born between 1990 and 2010. This is the first generation that grew up in a fully digital society, he said. Its only logical that our academic programmes reflect that reality. With the world now a global village, a student in Abuja should have the same learning experience as a student in Atlanta or even Beijing. Thats what were working toward through this partnership.
Beyond physical exchanges, the partnership also includes developing robust virtual learning platforms, ensuring that students who are unable to travel still receive the same quality of instruction. Education has evolved since the pandemic, Mrs. Bola Fashola, the colleges Vice President, Global and Corporate Affairs, noted. Now we are embracing hybrid and online learning models. For students who wish to study in Nigeria but benefit from the American system, this model provides the best of both worlds.
Fashola further explained that the colleges’ curriculum is modeled directly after that of JSCU, another notable HBCU in the U.S The idea is curriculum articulation, she said. We want our students in Nigeria to receive the same quality education as their peers in the U.S. This means shared lectures, aligned academic content, and seamless transitions for students who wish to transfer abroad.
Already, four students at Nubian American Advanced College have received admission letters through the institutions transfer portal and are preparing to begin their studies at Johnson Southsmith C University in the spring, 2025 semester. These students have been prepped not only academically but mentally and emotionally for a journey that could redefine their futures.
The benefits of choosing a university like JSCU are numerous. As an HBCU founded after the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S, the university has a legacy of resilience, empowerment, and excellence in educating people of color. For Nigerian students, this presents an opportunity to be part of an institution that values heritage, promotes diversity, and fosters a global mindset.
Mr. Patrick Ida Oyinkari, Provost of Nubian American Advanced College, also highlighted the long-term benefits of aligning with American educational systems. In the 1970s, American education was not highly rated in Nigeria, he said. But today, the world acknowledges its strength, especially in innovation, community development, and entrepreneurial thinking. Adopting this model in Nigeria can transform our country just as it has transformed theirs.
He emphasized that Nigeria, as the centre of Africa, holds the key to igniting continental progress. If we get this right, match curricula, respect our cultural nuances, and educate with purpose, we can restore the high standards that Nigerian institutions once held globally. Education is global now, and we are ensuring our students are globally prepared.
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