The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Consortium of Universities in Kwara State (KU8+) and immediate past Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, has urged universities in the state to become drivers of development by providing research-based solutions to critical challenges.

Oloyede made the call on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the opening of the Fourth KU8+ Conference held at Summit University, Offa.

He urged universities to remain apolitical and provide objective advice to government, saying they have a responsibility to contribute ideas and policies capable of promoting sustainable development.

Recalling his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Oloyede said he once declined an appointment as a Presiding Officer during a national election because he believed universities should remain neutral and serve as mediators when political disagreements arise.

He also called on KU8+ institutions to collaborate on agricultural development, citing Kwara’s numerous federal agricultural institutions as an advantage that should be fully utilised.

Oloyede further urged the universities to deploy research and innovation towards reviving industries such as the Bacita Sugar Company, Jebba Paper Mill and the former Tobacco Company, which he said once contributed significantly to the state’s economy.

The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, commended the KU8+ initiative, describing it as a positive step towards strengthening cooperation among universities in Kwara State.

Meanwhile, Emeritus Professor of Science Education, Olugbemiro Jegede, called for deeper collaboration among KU8+ institutions through credit transfers, staff and student exchanges, joint degree programmes and collaborative research.

He also proposed a shared academic ecosystem featuring a consortium-wide Learning Management System, virtual campuses and shared computing and cloud infrastructure to reduce duplication and expand access to academic resources.