Leading lights in Africa’s higher education honoured by the Association of African Universities

Professor El Fasi, Professor Is-Haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, and Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo have received the prestigious AAU Higher Education Excellence Awards at the 16th Quadrennial General Conference holding at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnique in Rabat Morocco from July 21 – 25, 2025.  

The AAU posthumously honoured Professor Mohammed El Fasi, Morocco’s first Minister of National Education, Youth and Sports after the country gained independence in 1956. He received a “Pioneer of African Higher Education Excellence Award” 

Professor El Fasi was instrumental in shaping modern education in post-independence Morocco and beyond. Following Morocco’s independence, he laid the groundwork for a national education system that emphasized accessibility, cultural identity, and academic excellence. His reforms modernized curricula and bridged traditional Islamic learning with contemporary academic standards, creating a model emulated across the region. At the international level, Professor El Fassi elevated African scholarship on the world stage. As President of the Executive Board of UNESCO (1958-1966), he championed educational cooperation, cultural preservation, and multilingual education, contributing significantly to the global recognition of African intellectual heritage. 

An erudite historian and prolific writer, he documented and revived interest in Moroccan and Andalusian literature, Islamic scholarship, and North African oral traditions. His academic work not only preserved cultural memory but also empowered future generations of African researchers and educators. Professor El Fassi’s enduring legacy lies in his vision of education as a tool for liberation, identity-building, and sustainable development. He inspired a generation of African thinkers and institutional leaders to believe in the power of indigenous knowledge systems and international collaboration. In recognition of his transformative contributions to African higher education, cultural scholarship, and global educational policy, the Association of African Universities honoured Professor Mohamed El Fassi as a towering figure whose legacy continues to shape the academic and cultural landscapes of Africa. 

Prof. Appiah Amfo, the history-making first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana was recognised as AAU’s Ambassador for Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in acknowledgment of her significant contributions to promoting gender equity, inclusion, and diversity within African higher education. She will support the Association of African Universities (AAU) in promoting inclusive practices and participation of marginalized groups across Africa’s higher education landscape. 

Under the leadership of Professor Appiah Amfo, the university of Ghana has prioritized gender-responsive policies and mentorship programmes for women. She has advanced initiatives that address the barriers faced by women and underrepresented groups in academia, championing policies that support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of female faculty and students. Her leadership has also emphasized the importance of creating safe, supportive environments that enable all students to thrive. She has championed flagship initiatives such as the One Student – One Laptop Programme, Classroom Modernization, and Hotspot Comfort Zones, which have expanded digital access and equity, ensuring that no student is left behind in the rapidly evolving educational landscape. Through her efforts, the University of Ghana has emerged as a continental model for digital readiness and resilience, further enhancing social inclusion. 

Beyond her institution, she has actively contributed to regional and continental dialogues on gender equity and social inclusion and has been an advocate for policies that strengthen African universities as spaces of opportunity and equality. 

Professor Is-Haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was recognised as the AAU Ambassador for Institutional Transformation and Leadership in acknowledgment of his exemplary record in driving systemic change within African higher education. Prof Oloyede has transformed the examination body through the implementation of transparent, technology-driven systems that have enhanced public trust, operational efficiency, and revenue integrity. These reforms have not only improved Nigeria’s education assessment landscape but have also provided a template for public sector accountability in Africa. 

Beyond national contributions, Professor Oloyede has played significant roles in advancing higher education across the continent, including serving as President of the Association of African Universities (2009-2011) and as a board member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. His leadership in these roles has contributed to fostering inter-university collaboration, policy dialogue, and the harmonization of quality standards across African universities. 

About the AAU & the 16th General Conference

The Association of African Universities (AAU) is holding its 16th Quadrennial General Conference under the theme: Shaping the Future of Higher Education for Innovation and Sustainable Development of Africa. This conference aims to address critical challenges in African higher education, promote innovative approaches, and foster collaboration among institutions across the continent. The Conference is serving as a stakeholders’ platform for engagement with the higher education community in Africa. At least 400 delegates from Africa, China, Europe, Russia, and across the globe are in attendance. Participants comprise AAU member universities, higher education policymakers, development partners, researchers, students, and other education stakeholders. 

The Association of African Universities (AAU) is the apex higher education organization in Africa and represents the voice of higher education on the continent on regional and international bodies. Established in Rabat (Morocco) in 1967, the AAU currently has a membership of over 450 institutions of higher learning across all the linguistic and geographic divides of Africa.