Joel Ajayi

Over 200 students and faculty members gathered on Monday, July 21, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for the official launch of the fourth annual Professors Without Borders (PWB) programme, a week-long intensive focused on “Leadership, Innovation, and Sustainability: Empowering Digital Transformation.”

In a statement signed by Oluseyi Sodiya, Senior Manager for Project and Digital Product at PWB, the event was described as a powerful kick-off to an impactful week of hands-on, globally inspired learning.

 The opening ceremony featured distinguished guests including Barrister Babatunde Ogundare, representative of the Minister of Interior, and Professor Folashade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, who was represented by Professor Bola Oboh, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Research.

“We are delighted to host this remarkable initiative for the fourth consecutive year,” Professor Oboh said.

 “The partnership between UNILAG and Professors Without Borders continues to provide our students and faculty with invaluable exposure to global perspectives and cutting-edge skills.”

The programme brings together a diverse team of international educators working alongside local professionals to deliver practical training aimed at building leadership and digital competencies among Nigerian students.

The teaching team includes: Dr. Bob Eckhart (Social Entrepreneurship) – Fulbright Scholar and Lead Professor for PWB Nigeria; Dr. Brieanne Beaujolais (Research Methods) – Social work researcher focused on social justice.

Others include, Charlie Dove-Edwin (Finance for Africa) – Investment banking veteran and Associate Professor at Richmond University, London; Peter-Frank Haarmans (Personal Branding) – Lecturer in marketing and branding at Hogeschool Tio, Netherlands and Oluseyi AJ Sodiya (AI Tools & Career Readiness) – Nigerian tech professional leading workshops with support from TotalEnergies volunteers

The programme is being coordinated by Titus Ayodele, Country Manager for PWB Nigeria, with support from Ambassador Dr. Olalekan Ajisafe and Dr. Aaron Akinloye.

From day one, students were immersed in hands-on sessions. Dr. Eckhart’s class challenged participants to design mobile applications, while Dr. Beaujolais guided students in developing research ideas and discussing methodological frameworks.

“The energy and enthusiasm of Nigerian students never fails to impress us,” said Dr. Eckhart. “We threw them straight into real-world problem solving, and they responded with creativity, innovation, and genuine passion.”

The students’ response surpassed expectations, with many applauding the practical, interactive teaching style—a departure from traditional lecture-based formats.

The programme is also providing faculty members with opportunities to enhance their teaching techniques through exposure to international educational models.

“This programme represents exactly the kind of knowledge exchange that strengthens our institutions,” read part of the welcoming statement. “Our students benefit from global expertise, while our faculty gain valuable insight into diverse teaching methodologies.”

Running through July 25, the five-day programme will cover essential topics such as social entrepreneurship, African finance, research methods, artificial intelligence tools, and personal branding—equipping students with job-market-ready skills.

This UNILAG session is part of PWB’s broader five-year strategic plan to reach over 15 Nigerian universities and train 2,000+ students by 2030, in alignment with Nigeria’s Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification and human capital development.

Following the UNILAG programme, the Professors Without Borders team will move to Ekiti State University from July 28 to August 1 for a similar engagement.

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