The International Open University (IOU) Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Prof. Aliyu Dahiru Muhammad participated in the West and Central African Research Network (WACREN) Conference 2026 held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 26-27 March 2026.

The West and Central Africa Research and Education Network (WACREN) organized its annual conference with the theme Connecting Futures: Advancing Africa's Digital Sovereignty through Open Collaboration.

The IOU DVC (Academics) Prof. Aliyu Dahiru Muhammad attended the conference accompanied by the Head of Law Program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdullahi Ishola.
The conference was officiated by the President of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, ably represented by the Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination, and Delivery of the Republic of The Gambia, Hon. Baboucarr Bouy. Other keynote speakers were the Honorable Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of The Gambia, Prof. Pierre Gomez and Hon. Minister for Digital Transition of Burkina Faso, Her Excellency Dr. Aminata Sabane.
The conference resolved that data sovereignty, operational sovereignty, building trusted foundation, localized AI infrastructure and collaborations are the keys for the future of education in the continent. Other important takeaways include integrating AI into learning, curriculum, pedagogy, faculty capacity building and problem-solving oriented engagements with students among others.

The IOU DVC (Academics) commended the efforts of the organizers at the closing ceremony and stated he was fascinated by the event and intellectual depths of the technical sessions.