Anchor University, Lagos (AUL), made history as her authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a United States of America (USA) based African Heritage Foundation (AHF), a development which is expected to turn the institution into a foremost centre of excellence in university education in Africa.

Speaking on the occasion, which was witnessed by the top echelon of the university’s authorities, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele, said the signing of the MoU was the beginning of an enduring relationship between Anchor University and the Foundation. Prof. Bandele expressed the hope that the MoU would not turn out to be one of such pacts that never worked or was unnecessarily delayed.

He stressed that the university authorities took time to discuss and examine details of the initiative with the Foundation before approval was granted for the signing of the MoU. He stressed that if Anchor University would embark on any project or initiative, such would be a reality, even as he expressed the confidence that the relationship with the African Heritage Foundation would be enduring.

Prof. Bamdele expressed joy that Nigeria has quality people in the diaspora like Ambassador Tunde Adetunji, the Chief Executive Officer of the African Heritage Foundation. He, therefore, maintained that from what he had come to know about the Foundation, the epoch-making initiative with Anchor University was divinely inspired.

Ambassador Tunde Adetunji, the CEO of the African Heritage Foundation, said that Nigeria in particular and indeed Africa need a change from brain drain to brain gain. He added that Nigeria and the African continent would need the expertise and ingenuity of those in the diaspora for positive change to take place. According to him, without the active involvement of Africans in the diaspora, the continent will not witness remarkable progress and development.

He also stressed that such positive change could only come if more attention is paid to education to end unnecessary industrial actions in the sector. He informed that the African Heritage Foundation had remained a catalyst for positive change in several universities on other continents and expressed joy that it had started in Africa and Nigeria through Anchor University.

Amb. Adetunji said that with the signing of the MoU, the secretariat of the African Heritage Foundation would be cited in Anchor University, stressing that with this singular act, the institution would automatically be branded and marked as the foremost centre of excellence in university education and research in Africa, as he did not foresee a disappointment in the initiative from any side.

He also announced that Anchor University would soon become a hub of knowledge, which would be accessible to intellectuals from all over the world. Amb. Adetunji also maintained that Nigeria had been blessed with several wealthy individuals and business people who should support universities with grants, while the alumni could support higher institutions to attain greatness.