02 Dec 2025

African higher education leaders have been urged to strengthen university leadership, deepen collaboration and accelerate innovation to help drive the continent’s socio-economic transformation.

Speaking at the 21st Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Gaborone on Monday, Minister of Higher Education Mr Prince Maele said Africa’s development challenges demanded a new model of university engagement, one that moved beyond traditional roles and prioritises real-world impact.

He identified youth unemployment, climate change, food insecurity, low value addition, sluggish economic growth and rising insecurity as persistent barriers undermining Africa’s progress.

“Our science output must receive a catalytic boost. Universities must evolve from centres of teaching and research into mission-driven institutions that generate solutions, technologies, products and services aligned with national and regional priorities,” he said.

Minister Maele described the conference theme: Positioning Africa’s universities and the higher education sector to effectively impact development processes on the continent as timely and forward-looking, reflecting growing recognition that African universities must be more proactive in shaping national and regional development.

“The theme clearly recognises that it is through innovation that higher education can build resilient societies and advance economic development,” he added.

Mr  Maele challenged institutions to lead Africa’s transition to a green and climate-resilient economy, noting that the continent currently secured only 3.6 per cent of global climate finance, far below what was needed.

He urged universities and the private sector to critically assess the bottlenecks limiting Africa’s participation in global climate financing and to scale efforts to attract investment into clean energy, climate-smart agriculture and green job creation.

The minister also commended long-standing development partners, including the Mastercard Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the African Development Bank and the World Bank, for sustained investment in Africa’s higher education sector, and appealed for continued support to help build work-ready graduates and resilient economies.

Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) Vice Chancellor Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele echoed the call for cohesion and purposeful partnerships, describing the conference as “a historic convergence of knowledge, action and purpose.”

Prof. Mosepele stressed that Africa’s agricultural and higher education transformation depended on stronger collaboration between universities, governments, communities and industry.

He urged public universities to demonstrate measurable impact and ensure society received a meaningful return on investment.

He further said universities must redesign curricula, embed entrepreneurship, strengthen inclusion for women and youth, and ground research in real community challenges.

Prof. Mosepele also highlighted digital transformation and leadership development as critical levers for building globally competitive African institutions.

The five-day meeting has attracted delegates from 175 universities across more than 40 African countries, with discussions focusing on higher education reform, climate-responsive agriculture, innovation ecosystems and strategies to strengthen Africa’s human capital for sustainable development.

As the conference progresses, leaders have reiterated that Africa’s universities were not just academic institutions as they were vital engines for innovation, resilience and economic growth. ENDS