The Linguistics Immersion Centre and the Centre for International Education (CIE) of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has taken the promotion of academic linkage to three  neighbouring countries of Benin, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire.

The Unilorin Bulletin issued on Tuesday stated that a four-man team visited these countries aimed at educational collaboration and recruitment of international students into the university.

The Deputy Director, CIE, Dr Oluwabunmi Niyi-Gafar, explained that the visit was in line with the agenda of the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Wahab Egbewole.

According to her, the delegation, while at the Nigerian Embassies in the three countries, established collaborations between the institution and the embassies.

She stated that they also met with various community leaders as well as Nigerian community leaders in these countries.

“The University’s delegation also visited the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin Republic to strengthen the already existing collaboration with UNILORIN; the University of Lome, Togo Republic, and Universite Felix Houphouet Boigny, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

“The visit is to establish academic collaborations, which include activities such as staff/student exchange, joint research, publication and co-supervision of postgraduate studies,” she disclosed.

Niyi-Gafar noted that the meetings were very successful, and that many prospective candidates expressed their interest in coming to the University of Ilorin for Immersion and undergraduate degree programmes.

The deputy director added that the host universities promised to further engage their community members in disseminating information about Unilorin and the need to explore the opportunities offered.

She pointed out that the Director of the Centre for International Education, Prof. Lateef Ibraheem, and his team had already received the Heads of Departments of Arabic and French to discuss collaboration on student exchange with the University of Abomey Calavi.

“The meeting was centered on ways to explore more areas of collaborations such as joint reviewing of departmental journals, supervision of projects and partnering as an editorial team.

“The meeting will strengthen the relationship between the University of Ilorin and Abomey Calavi University, Benin Republic,” she said.