UNILAG, China’s Hohai University Forge Strategic Partnership On Water Engineering, Blue Economy Research
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A new chapter in international academic collaboration opened at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as the institution formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s Hohai University to strengthen cooperation in water engineering, blue economy research, innovation and technology.
The agreement was signed at the Senate House by UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, and the President of Hohai University, Professor Jinhai Zheng, during a ceremony attended by members of the university’s management and academic community.
The partnership is expected to promote joint research, staff and student exchanges, technology transfer, and capacity building in areas of mutual interest.
The visit, coordinated by the Director of UNILAG’s Office of Global Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Abimbola Sowemimo, began with a documentary presentation highlighting Hohai University’s rich history and global academic achievements.
Founded in 1915 as the Hohai Civil Engineering School, the institution has grown into one of China’s leading research universities under the country’s Ministry of Education.
Today, it operates three campuses in Nanjing and Changzhou, employs more than 3,500 academic staff, and enrols over 55,000 students across undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programmes.
Its research strengths include water resources, hydrology, environmental engineering, civil engineering, sustainable development and business administration, with partnerships spanning more than 130 universities and research institutions worldwide.
Speaking during the ceremony, Professor Ogunsola described the collaboration as timely, noting that water resource management and the blue economy have become increasingly important to Nigeria’s development agenda amid rising concerns over flooding, coastal erosion and sustainable use of marine resources.
She said UNILAG deliberately sought collaboration with Hohai University because of its internationally recognised expertise in water engineering and related disciplines.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted UNILAG’s growing reputation for innovation, citing its ranking by Forbes as the third most innovative university in Africa.
According to her, the university is already working towards establishing an Underground Water Institute as part of its broader strategy to expand research and innovation across the blue economy value chain.
Beyond the formal signing ceremony, the Chinese delegation toured several of UNILAG’s innovation centres.
At the NITHub Innovation and Exhibition Fair located at the Jelili Adebisi Omotola Halls, Director Professor Victor Odumuyiwa showcased innovations developed by students and entrepreneurs.
He disclosed that NITHub has trained about 200,000 innovators over the past five years, equipping young Nigerians with digital, entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills.
Members of the delegation interacted with exhibitors, observed demonstrations and engaged students on their innovative projects.
The visitors also toured the UNILAG AI UniPod, where Director Professor Chika Yinka-Banjo highlighted the university’s investments in artificial intelligence research, digital skills development and interdisciplinary collaboration.
She explained that the facility is designed to prepare students for emerging opportunities in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.
The visit concluded with strategic discussions involving representatives of relevant UNILAG faculties and the Hohai University delegation.
The discussions focused on translating the newly signed agreement into concrete programmes, including collaborative research, academic exchanges, technology transfer and joint innovation initiatives.
For both institutions, the MoU marks the beginning of what they hope would become a long-term partnership dedicated to advancing research, innovation and sustainable development in water resources, engineering and the blue economy.
