UEW Forms Strategic Partnership with EDUDIA
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has affirmed its commitment to international academic collaboration by hosting esteemed delegates from the Education Dialogue Association (EDUDIA) based in Nigeria. This initiative marks a significant advancement in enhancing academic cooperation across Africa.
The engagement took place on Monday, 4th August, 2025, at the Office of the Vice-Chancellor of UEW. Among the delegation were Prof. Isaac Nwankwo, President of EDUDIA and Professor of Educational Management and Policy at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Nigeria and Prof. Martins Fabunmi, Founder of EDUDIA and Professor of Educational Management and Leadership at Modibbo Adama University in Yola, Nigeria.
Prof. Fabunmi recounted the genesis of EDUDIA, highlighting his motivation to establish the association in 2012 to make international academic collaboration more accessible to African scholars. “I was spending over 750,000 Naira attending conferences abroad when my monthly salary was only 34,000 Naira. I realised it would be more impactful to foster collaborations within Africa, benefiting upcoming academics and increasing our institutions' global visibility,” he explained.
Prof. Nwankwo revealed that UEW had been earmarked as a central hub for EDUDIA’s activities in Ghana. According to him, UEW’s involvement will begin with the hosting of a new international academic journal for which the association requested the University's nomination of an Editor-in-Chief and a Managing Editor. The publication, expected to enhance both research output and UEW’s Webometric rankings, will focus on educational management and policy studies.
The EDUDIA team also proposed the establishment of a permanent office on UEW’s campus to coordinate all joint activities and ensure continuity.
Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor of UEW, pledged his full support, stating, “For me, universities thrive on collaboration and it is high time African institutions began to work together more deliberately.”
To ensure effective coordination of all collaborative activities, the Vice-Chancellor officially appointed Prof. Hinneh Kusi as Liaison Officer between UEW and EDUDIA. Prof. Kusi will be responsible for facilitating the partnership's operations and making recommendations for editorial roles.
Prof. Mitchual further emphasised the importance of African partnerships over costly and often imbalanced collaborations with Western institutions. “It is ironic that we sometimes meet fellow Ghanaians or Nigerians for the first time in Europe or Asia, rather than on the continent. This initiative is long overdue.”
Prof. Mitchual noted the enduring camaraderie between Ghana and Nigeria, commending both nations’ roles in supporting one another during periods of political and economic hardship.
The visit marks the beginning of what both parties hope will be a long-standing and fruitful partnership. With conferences already lined up and joint publications in the works, UEW is poised to become a beacon of pan-African academic excellence.
The Education Dialogue Association (EDUDIA), incorporated on 29th December, 2015, is a dynamic policy advocacy organisation dedicated to advancing global development through informed dialogue and strategic action. With a vision to bring together members from across the world, EDUDIA leverages policy advocacy as a powerful tool to influence positive change on the international stage.
Committed to evidence-based solutions, EDUDIA actively seeks partnerships with research-driven organisations in diverse countries, fostering collaboration that bridges knowledge, policy and practice.
Through its global network, collaborative initiatives and commitment to integrity, EDUDIA stands as a catalyst for sustainable development, transparency and international cooperation.
