Varsity leaders, financial experts to chart way for improved fund access

Vice-chancellors, university founders, policymakers, financiers, registrars, bursars, and education strategists from across the Commonwealth are set to converge in Lagos to unlock financial access to improve education. The conference will hold between May 21 and 22, 2026. According to the organiser, the Commonwealth Institute, the conference is aimed at offering practical, actionable strategies to strengthen […]

Vice-chancellors, university founders, policymakers, financiers, registrars, bursars, and education strategists from across the Commonwealth are set to converge in Lagos to unlock financial access to improve education.
The conference will hold between May 21 and 22, 2026.
According to the organiser, the Commonwealth Institute, the conference is aimed at offering practical, actionable strategies to strengthen university systems at a time when institutions face mounting financial pressures, regulatory demands, and global competition.
The event will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers whose combined expertise spans public policy, finance, technology, governance, and academic leadership.

 

Among the speakers expected are: Sonny Echono; Executive Secretary of TETFund, Wale Adeosun; a respected investment professional and infrastructure financier, Ayo Abina; an experienced development finance and advisory expert.

 

Others include Professor Yakubu Ochefu; a former Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Ummahani Ahmad Amin: a Capital Market Solicitor and Expert of Interest-free finance, Yemi Keri; a leading technology and digital transformation expert.

 

The speakers include Blackson Bayewumi, Country Director, The Royal Commonwealth Society, Sola Longe-Okenimkpe; a finance and education sector specialist and Professor Lawrence Ezemonye; a seasoned academic leader and chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors in Nigeria.

 

The event will be moderated by Anthon Kila, a Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development, and Commonwealth Institute Director.

 

According to the organisers, the conference is deliberately designed as a working forum rather than a purely academic exercise.

 

Participants will engage directly with experts and peers on issues such as revenue diversification, research commercialisation, donor engagement, and executive education as alternative income streams.

 

A key highlight of the event will be discussions on the proposed Commonwealth Collegium, an initiative to foster collaboration among universities through shared research, academic exchange, and funding partnerships across Commonwealth countries.