From Dialogue to Action (Event Agenda, Speakers, and Calls to Action)

Advancing Partnerships between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Alignment with the Diaspora as Africa’s Sixth Region

Recent trends show a growing interest among HBCUs and African higher education institutions (HEIs) to forge meaningful partnerships that transcend borders while advancing the capacity and long-term sustainability of both networks of institutions. Initiatives such as joint research and centers of excellence initiatives, faculty exchanges, offshore campuses, joint curriculum projects, twinning programs, executive leadership development, quality assurance and accreditation, technical and vocational education and training, and collaborative community engagement are emerging, but there is a pressing need for a structured platform to facilitate these efforts for the mutual benefit of both HBCUs and African HEIs to support areas of common challenge and opportunity (including financing models, digital infrastructure, enrollment management and faculty development). Against this background, the Historic African Diaspora Placement Program (HADIP) is partnering with the Association of African Universities (AAU), the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), and the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building (UNCF) to organize around the theme: “From Dialogue to Action: Advancing Partnerships between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and African Higher Education Institutions in Alignment with the Diaspora as Africa’s Sixth Region,” which aims to move the dialogue to actionable strategies.

Conference Date and Time: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Time: 10:00AM EST (Eastern Standard Time)| 15:00 WAT (West African Time)| 16:00 CAT (Central African Time)

Click here for conference registration

Read more in our conference briefing below:

From Dialogue to Action Conference Briefing Document FinalDownload

Calls to Action:

UNCF Institute for Capacity Building invites institutional leaders, faculty, industry and technology representatives, and global partners to contribute to our Global Solutions and Partnerships Survey and help define the future of U.S.–Africa higher education collaboration. This initiative is part of our Year of Discovery—building a lasting framework for shared innovation, institutional transformation, and enterprise.

As an incentive, upon completion of the survey, each participant will be entered into a drawing to receive ONE (1) gift card, valued at $100, sent digitally to them.

Click here to access the survey

Organization Websites: AAU.ORG, 8BAfrica, UNCF Institute for Capacity Building

Speakers for our Virtual Symposium

Dr. Beverly Booker-Ammah, Executive Director HBCU African Education Coalition
President Brenda Allen, Lincoln University
President Valerie Kinloch, Johnson C. Smith University
Ed Smith-Lewis, Senior Vice President Strategic Partnerships and Institutional Programs, UNCF ICB
Dr. Lydiah Bosire, Founder and Executive Director, 8B Education Investments
Mamadou Biteye, Executive Secretary, Africa Capacity Building Foundation
Dr. Chimdimnma Esimai, Strategy Fellow UNCF ICB
Professor Reginald Nnazor, Executive Director, Historic Africa Diaspora Placement Program
President Koffi Akakpo, Kentucky State University
Professor Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General, Association of African Universities
Professor Sunungurai Chingarade, Vice Chancellor, Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe
Professor Prudence Bararunyeretse, Rector, University of Burundi , Burundi
Mr. Bob Wekesa, Acting Director, African Centre for the Study of the USA, University of the Witwatersand, South Africa
Prof Atanga Desmond Funwie, Vice Chancellor, Kesmonds International University, Cameroon
Sophila Ashipala, Section Head, Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, African Union Commission
Tarek Ben Yousef, Acting Head of Mission, African Union Mission to the USA
Julian Thompson, Senior Director, Strategy Development UNCF ICB
Dr. Walter Kimbrough, Executive VP, Research and Engagement UNCF
Professor Adil Echchelh, Vice President, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco
Professor Francisca O. Oladipo, Vice Chancellor, Thomas Adewumi University, Nigeria