With strong conviction and a shared vision for academic excellence across the region, Liberia’s Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, officially launched the Second International Conference of the West African Anglophone Quality Assurance Network (WAAQAN) on Monday, September 1, 2025, at Cuttington University in Suakoko, Bong County.Held under the theme “Improving Higher Education Institutions’ Ecosystem Through Quality Assurance,” the four-day conference convenes a distinguished assembly of educational leaders, quality assurance experts, policymakers, researchers, and academics from across Anglophone West Africa and beyond.
This gathering goes beyond academic exchange—it represents a bold step forward in shaping the future of higher education across the region. In her inspiring opening remarks, Minister Jallah emphasized the urgent need for innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
She underscored that effective quality assurance is not merely a standard but a strategic imperative for national development and global competitiveness.
“By launching this conference,” she affirmed, “we are reaffirming our collective commitment to building resilient, competitive, and transformative education systems that empower our students, uplift our institutions, and inspire our nations.”
Hosted by the historic and highly regarded Cuttington University, the conference features a dynamic program of keynote presentations, plenary sessions, panel discussions, and practical workshops.
These activities are designed to foster innovation, strengthen institutional frameworks, promote policy harmonization, and support sustainable quality assurance practices throughout the region’s higher education systems.
The conference is further enriched by the participation of esteemed regional and international delegates, including Professor Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology of The Gambia; Professor Kayode Samuel Adekeye, President of WAAQAN and Conference Convener; Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Nigeria; Dr. Adewale Adesina, Digital Specialist at the University of Hull, United Kingdom; and Professor Solomon Okunuga, Director of the Research Management Office at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
They are joined by national professionals, educators, and scholars from across Liberia, forming a powerful coalition for academic transformation and progress. The conference will conclude on Thursday, September 4, 2025, with a formal closing ceremony and the presentation of certificates.
This ceremony will be co-led by Dr. Romelle A. Horton, President of Cuttington University, and Professor Kayode Samuel Adekeye, President of WAAQAN. The closing session will highlight key outcomes, affirm resolutions, and chart a forward-looking agenda for continued regional collaboration and educational reform.
The official launch of this high-level event reflects Liberia’s growing leadership in advancing educational quality and standards across West Africa. It stands as a call to action for all education stakeholders—within and beyond the region—to rise with courage, unity, and purpose in redefining the future of higher learning.
