University of Abuja signs historic partnership with UNESCO Chair in Geodiversity, other

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UNESCO Chair in Geodiversity and Geoconservation hosted at the University of Minho, Portugal, becoming the first university globally to formalise a cooperation agreement with the Chair since its establishment in 2025.

The partnership represents an important milestone in the internationalisation agenda of the University of Abuja and reinforces its growing role in advancing geoscience research, geoheritage conservation, and geoparks development in Nigeria and across Africa.

The UNESCO Chair in Geodiversity and Geoconservation, coordinated by Professor José Brilha at the University of Minho, was established by UNESCO to promote global research, education, and capacity building in the conservation and sustainable management of geological heritage and geodiversity. The Chair builds on the University of Minho’s internationally recognised leadership in geoheritage research and geoparks studies.

The Memorandum of Understanding provides a framework for cooperation between the two institutions in areas including geodiversity research, geoheritage conservation, geoparks development, protected areas management, and world heritage studies. The partnership will facilitate joint research initiatives, academic exchanges, postgraduate training, collaborative publications, and the organisation of international scientific conferences and workshops.

At the University of Abuja, the partnership is being coordinated by the Head of the Department of Geology and Gemology, Dr. Aminu Abdullahi Isyaku, the UNESCO Chair of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme Nigeria National Committee, who serves as the institutional contact person for the collaboration with the UNESCO Chair.

Dr. Isyaku acknowledged the support and leadership of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, whose commitment to strengthening international academic partnerships and expanding the global visibility of the University made the agreement possible. The support of the University leadership has enabled the institution to secure an early position within the global network associated with the UNESCO Chair.

The UNESCO Chair operates through a growing international network of founding partners that includes ten universities from nine countries as well as two international organisations working in the field of geological heritage conservation.

The academic partners include the University of São Paulo and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, Púnguè University in Mozambique, and the University of Tasmania in Australia, alongside partner universities in Morocco, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Cameroon, and Botswana. The Chair also collaborates with the international organisations ProGEO – the International Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Geological Heritage Specialist Group.

Through this collaboration, the University of Abuja joins an emerging global academic platform dedicated to advancing research and education in geodiversity and geoconservation while strengthening Africa’s participation in international initiatives related to geoheritage protection, geoparks development, and sustainable geoscience.

The partnership further supports the University of Abuja’s strategic ambition to expand international research collaboration and to position the institution as a leading centre for geoscience education, geoheritage research, and geoparks development in Africa.