At the 104th Convocation of the University of Liberia, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi emphasized the pivotal role universities play in fostering peace amidst global conflict and instability.
Addressing over 300 graduates at the Fendell Campus, Dr. Audi, a noted Nigerian educator, outlined how universities can cultivate a culture of peace through education, research, and community engagement.
Dr. Audi underscored that universities are crucial in promoting peace by encouraging critical thinking, dialogue, and addressing complex social issues.
However, he also highlighted significant challenges facing African universities, such as inadequate funding, brain drain, and political interference.
Citing a 2016 study by Tiyambe Zeleza, Dr. Audi pointed out that insufficient financial resources compromise educational quality, infrastructure, and research capabilities.
He also noted that the emigration of skilled academics seeking better opportunities abroad depletes intellectual resources within African universities.
Political interference, he argued, further hampers academic freedom and research, using examples from Zimbabwe and Ethiopia to illustrate how government control can undermine universities’ roles as independent centers of knowledge.
Dr. Audi also addressed the challenges posed by Africa’s diverse cultural and linguistic landscape, which, while enriching, can create campus tensions and complicate policy development.
To overcome these obstacles, he called for increased investment in university infrastructure, efforts to retain academic talent, protection of academic freedom, and the development of inclusive educational policies.
The Amos C. Sawyer College, a cornerstone of higher education in Liberia since its founding in 1862, continues to adapt and address academic challenges as part of the University’s core values values.
