By Ajong Mbapndah L
New York, December 19, 2025 — By mid-morning, the Nelson Mandela Conference Room at the African Union Mission to the United Nations had settled into a familiar UN rhythm: headsets adjusted, notebooks open, quiet exchanges between diplomats and university presidents who, only moments earlier, had not met.
What brought them together was a shared question: how can higher education move beyond classrooms to become a tool for peace, security, and development across Africa?
The Future of HBCUs in Africa: A High-Level HBCU Leadership Meeting, convened by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Angola, unfolded more like a working session than a ceremonial gathering, shaped by both urgency and long-term strategic intent.
Opening the Conversation: Education Beyond Borders
The session officially began with remarks delivered by Ambassador Mateus Luemba, Deputy Permanent Representative of Angola to the United Nations, who spoke on behalf of Angola’s Permanent Representative H.E. Francisco José da Cruz, who was out of the country. Ambassador Luemba highlighted Angola’s post-conflict journey and the quiet yet decisive role that education played in national reconciliation.
“Higher education is not peripheral to peace; it is foundational to it,” he noted, setting a tone that resonated throughout the day.
The message was reinforced by H.E. Téte António, Angola’s Minister of External Relations and Chairperson of the African Union Executive Council, who delivered the keynote address via video link. He emphasized Africa’s demographic reality:
“Africa’s greatest resource is its youth, and higher education is how we convert potential into stability and opportunity.”
He underscored that partnerships with HBCUs are grounded in shared history and mutual respect, not transactional exchange.
Angola’s Higher Education Landscape Comes Into Focus
H.E. Albano Vicente Lopes Ferreira, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, outlined Angola’s evolving academic priorities, from strengthening research capacity to aligning curricula with national development goals:
“Our institutions must respond to real economic sectors—energy, agriculture, health sciences, innovation. This is where collaboration with HBCUs becomes transformative.”
His insights anchored the conversation, connecting visionary ideas with practical realities familiar to other African delegations in attendance.
A Decade of Work, Not a Moment
Dr. Rita Cooma, Dr. Rita Cooma, Head of the International Consulting Council (ICCCOUNCIL) organizer of the event, co-moderator of the meeting and Special Adviser to Angola’s Minister of External Relations on Higher Education, Reconciliation, Peace, and Human Development, emphasized that the initiative represents ten years of sustained effort:
“This did not start today, and it will not end today. We are building systems, scholarships, campuses, and leadership councils that must endure a decade from now.”
Her remarks resonated with HBCU leaders who shared candid institutional experiences, reflecting lessons learned and the patience required for sustainable impact.
From Ideas to Infrastructure
Afternoon sessions moved the dialogue from vision to implementation. Topics ranged from establishing HBCU satellite campuses to governance, accreditation, and regional coordination.
Breakout sessions engaged African Union officials, SADC and ICGLR representatives, and university leaders in practical discussions. Presentations by partners such as Hospital in a Box and G64 Education demonstrated how higher education can be directly linked to health systems, digital learning, and infrastructure development.
“This has to be bigger than one institution or one nation,” one regional representative observed, reflecting the consensus in the room.
As of press time, deliberations and thematic workshops are still underway, with participants actively engaging in discussions on scholarships, satellite campuses, governance, and regional coordination. The day will culminate in the Angola–HBCU High-Level Dinner Reception and networking session from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, offering a high-profile setting for ministers, diplomats, and university leaders to deepen collaborations and explore practical partnerships.
