By Habeeb Ibrahim
The Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) and Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), Ghana, are seeking to strengthen engineering education through industry-driven curricula, faculty exchanges and the involvement of experienced professionals in academic programmes.
The initiative is part of efforts by both institutions to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the practical skills required by industries, with engineering selected as the pilot area for the collaboration.
The agreement followed a five-day working visit by the KsTU leadership to LASUSTECH from September 18 to 22, 2026, to advance a partnership established through a memorandum of understanding signed in 2023.
Under the proposed arrangement, the universities will introduce faculty exchange programmes in engineering, supported by a logistics-swap arrangement, and explore the appointment of experienced industry professionals as professors of practice.
The Vice-Chancellor of LASUSTECH, Professor Odusanya, said the partnership must produce practical results rather than focus solely on academic qualifications.
He identified curriculum development, postgraduate programmes and problem-solving research as priorities, adding that the collaboration should also strengthen the capacity and competencies of non-teaching staff.
Odusanya proposed a 12-month period for assessing progress, with joint research publications and the involvement of KsTU academics as external examiners for master’s programmes at LASUSTECH among the indicators.
He also envisaged the development of new curricula from postgraduate to doctoral levels, alongside staff exchanges, joint supervision and research addressing real-world challenges.
Speaking at a joint symposium themed “Nigeria–Ghana Partnership: Driving Technological Education and Innovation”, the Vice-Chancellor of KsTU, Professor Gabriel Dwomoh, stressed the importance of aligning technical education with industry needs.
He identified industry-aligned curricula, compulsory industrial internships, well-equipped laboratories and studios, and lecturers with industrial experience as essential to preparing students for professional practice.
Dwomoh also criticised promotion systems in Nigeria and Ghana for placing greater emphasis on doctoral qualifications than professional experience.
He argued that technical universities should give greater recognition to experienced industry professionals through the appointment of professors of practice, particularly those with decades of practical expertise.
According to him, sustained investment in technology and technical education is necessary for national development. He further observed that both countries spend considerably less on technical and vocational education than the cited benchmark of 15 to 30 per cent.
Beyond engineering, the universities plan to collaborate on international conferences, student innovation challenges, technology and innovation fairs, and joint research.
They also agreed to profile their faculties and involve industry professionals in programme advisory committees to strengthen competency-based curricula.
The Vice-Chancellors said the partnership held strategic significance for Nigeria, Ghana and the wider West African region, noting that both institutions evolved from polytechnics into universities.
The KsTU delegation was led by Dwomoh and included Professor Babamu Osman Halidu, Deputy Director of Internationalisation and Advancement; Mrs Ama Kyerewaa Boakye Nti, Acting Registrar; and Mr Isaac Owusu Ansah, Finance Director.
The visit featured engagements with academic departments and stakeholders, laboratory inspections, facility tours and a visit to Badagry.
The planned 12-month assessment will provide a timeline for evaluating the collaboration, particularly its capacity to strengthen engineering training, improve industry participation and deliver research with practical applications.
