The International Open University (IOU) leadership has come to an agreement to collaborate with the International Institute of Islamic Thought, West Africa (IIITWA) and signed an MOU agreed upon by the leadership of the institutions at Kano, on 28 August, 2026. The terms of the agreement focus on advancing research, Islamic education and other integrated sciences in the West African Countries.

The relationship between the IIITWA and IOU started in October 2025 when the former sponsored a capacity building training for Postgraduates and Islamic finance institutions in The Gambia where over 50 participants were trained. The 3-day training demonstrated commitments of both organizations in common interests even before the formal signing of the MOU.The areas of collaboration in the MOU include visiting fellows to IOU, research, joint publications, capacity building among others. The IIITWA representative, Regional Coordinator Prof. Bashir Galadanci expressed his satisfaction especially on the common vision between the two institutions.

Responding on behalf of the IOU, Vice Chancellor Prof. Makie Taal, thanked the IIITWA leadership especially for sponsoring the training that was conducted in 2025 through the DVC (Academics) Prof. Aliyu Dahiru Muhammad. He also thanked them for organizing a dinner where all the directors of the IIIT attended.