The West Africa Hub
Anchored in Lagos and Berekuso, The West Africa Hub is driving West African-centered, context-specific work across the sub-region.
The West Africa Hub was operationalized in June 2022, hosted by Pan-Atlantic University. We started with nine institutions, drawn together by a shared belief: that West African universities, working together, can shape better student outcomes than any one campus working alone.
Today the hub brings together 36 institutions across seven countries. Our anchor and exemplar institutions commit resources, share their blueprint of success, and walk alongside peer universities as they build their own systems — in employability, ethics, entrepreneurship, and student support.
From 2023 to 2025, the hub has committed more than $148,000 to projects across the region. By 2030, we estimate the work will reach more than 407,000 students.
West Africa is the largest of the four standard sub-regions in Sub-Saharan Africa driven heavily by Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal (per UN and World Bank data). The West Africa Hub maintains the highest number of member institutions and is the fastest growing hub.
The hub also hosts the highest number of Francophone countries in Africa, and therefore takes the lead in developing programs and activities for engaging French speaking institutions in the network.
407,680+
Students estimated to be impacted within the region by 2030
36
Institutions actively engaged, across 7 countries
$148K+
Committed to projects and initiatives in the region, 2023–2025
“West Africa’s scale and diversity bring both significant opportunities and unique challenges to higher education. Across French- and English-speaking countries, institutions within the Hub are learning from one another, sharing knowledge and best practices, and working together to address common challenges. By drawing on each institution’s unique strengths and experiences, the Hub is helping to strengthen higher education and improve opportunities and outcomes for thousands of students.”
Rita Abla Dugbenu
Associate Director, West Africa Hub
West Africa Hub Convenings
Held every two years in March, the West Africa Hub Convening brings together institutions and partners across the region to address shared challenges and drive progress in higher education.
These convening creates space for institutions to collaborate, share practical approaches, and build systems that improve student outcomes.
56%
Participant growth
62%
Average rate of returning institutions
16+
Countries represented across past convenings
97%
Average completion rate for commitments made at convenings
Past Convenings
2024 - Lagos, Nigeria
Themed “Building an Ecosystem of Excellence for Research, Leadership, and Graduate Employability,” the Hub’s inaugural convening brought together 104 participants from 33 institutions across 11 countries to strengthen collaboration in research, leadership, and graduate employability.
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2026 - Lome, Togo
Themed, “Students First: Rethinking Support Systems, Campus Life, and Academic Success in African Higher Education Institutions,” the convening brought together 165 participants from 41 institutions across 12 countries to examine how student success is defined, funded, and sustained
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Hub Engagements
The West Africa Hub creates opportunities for institutions, students, and higher education leaders to learn from one another, build connections, and collaborate across the region.
Leading Learning Exchanges
Bringing faculty and staff together to exchange knowledge, experiences, and approaches to shared priorities.
Connecting Student Leaders
Creating opportunities for student leaders to organize, connect, and learn with peers across member institutions.
Advancing Student Exchanges
Establishing pathways for mutually beneficial student exchanges among higher education institutions to deepen cross-cultural learning, strengthen institutional connections, and broaden students’ learning experiences.
Expanding Francophone Engagement
Deepening connections with institutions in Francophone Africa through institutional visits in predominantly French-speaking countries including Senegal, Togo, Cotê D’Ivoire, Benin and Niger hosting the Hub’s first bi-lingual convening in Togo.
Hub Secretariat
The Education Collaborative’s core team coordinates activities across the Hub, works closely with its Strategic and Technical Committees, and supports progress toward the Hub’s goals.
Rita Abla Dugbenu
Assistant Director, West Africa Hub
Benedicta Elinam Agbokey-Prah
Programs Coordinator, Francophone Africa
Strategic Committee
Vice-Chancellors and senior leaders from anchor institutions across West Africa, who shape the hub’s strategy and hold it accountable to the region.
Dr Peter Bamkole
West Africa Hub Chairperson;
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University
Prof Timothy A. Anake
Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University
Prof DeBrenna Agbényiga
Provost, VP Academic Affairs, International University of Grand Bassam
Prof Rosemond Boohene
Professor of Enterprise Development, University of Cape Coast
Prof Kwasi Dartey Baah
Vice-Chancellor, Central University Ghana
Prof Jeremiah Ojediran
Vice-Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Ota
Mr Maurice Gnamatsi
Founder and CEO, ISLA International Language and Business School
Mr Abdul Mahdi
Dean, Ashesi University
Prof Gordon Abekah-Nkrumah
Director, Institutional Advancement, University of Ghana
Prof Peter Boamah
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Bolgatanga Technical University
Prof Ernest Tweneboah-Koduah
Dean, University of Ghana Business School
Technical Committee
Faculty and administrators across the hub who design programs, run convenings, and coordinate the day-to-day collaboration between institutions.
Dr Edward Amarteifio
Chariperson;
Director, Design Thinking & Innovation Hub · University of Cape Coast
Dr Esi Akyere Mensah
Lecturer · International University of Grand Bassam
Dr Celestine Kezie
Lecturer · Pan-Atlantic University
Dr Edem Sabah Welbeck
Lecturer · University of Ghana Business School
Prof John Daramola
Professor · Bells University of Technology, Ota
Ms Esther Mensah
Registrar · Palm University College
Ms Charlotte Rahe
Chief of Staff · Burkina Institute of Technology
Prof Justice Bawole
Lecturer · University of Ghana Business School
Ms Regina Acquah-Bentil
Guidance & Counselling Officer · Accra Technical University
Jude Acquaah
Assistant Director, Outreach & Experiential Programmes · Ashesi University
Dr Obindah Gershon
Director, International Office & Linkages · Covenant University
Alexis Ayamdor
Sectional Head, Industrial Liaison · Bolgatanga Technical University
Dr Chinedu Anokwuru
Deputy Director, Research, Innovation & International Cooperation · Babcock University
Dr Halleluyah Aworinde
Assistant Professor · Bowen University, Nigeria
Mr Yao Semanu Dogbe
ISLA Business School
West Africa Hub Annual Report, August 2023 – July 2024
Explore the West Africa Hub’s first year, including its inaugural convening, regional collaborations, research insights, and initiatives advancing employability, leadership, and faculty development.
News & Insights From the Hub
Programs and grants that turn collaboration between member institutions into real change on campuses across West Africa.
Post-Convening Grants
Funding support for member institutions to turn convening insights into real projects on their campuses — work-readiness programs, career platforms, dual-learning pilots, and more.
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Systems Change Program — Employability
An 18-month transformation process designed to fundamentally develop the systems driving student outcomes on campus, combining a systems approach with implementation grants.
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Reflections on the growth of the hub
Dr. Celestine Kezie Jr, two-term Chair of the Technical Committee, reflects on the collaborative wins that have advanced ethics, research, employability, and student services across member institutions.
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Rethinking Student Support Systems
Higher education institutions across West Africa convened in 2026 to advance student-centered reforms — strengthening support systems, campus life, and academic success.
Learn more →
Bring your institution into the hub.
Membership is open to higher-ed institutions committed to deep collaboration around student outcomes. Start with a conversation.
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