VC says world missing continent’s untapped resources, climate opportunity

The Vice Chancellor (VC), Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Clement Kolawole, has warned that the world risks decline if Africa continues to be ignored.

He gave the warning yesterday, during the 10th yearly Lagos Studies Association (LSA) conference, themed “The State of African Studies in the 21st Century: The Lagos Studies Association at 10,” held at the university.

Kolawole, who spoke during a media briefing on the weeklong conference held in Lagos, underscored the continent’s rising population and untapped resources as indispensable to global progress.

He stressed that both must be harnessed for meaningful development, noting that Africa’s soil holds most of the resources needed by developed nations.

The VC argued that the world made a mistake in leaving Africa behind, but now has the chance to correct it by partnering with the continent.

“Globally, the trajectory of development is shifting toward Africa. For too long, Africa was overlooked by global institutions, but the world is now realising that it cannot move forward without Africa’s immense potential.

“Our continent is rich in mineral resources essential to global industry, and equally endowed with human capacity—population, skills, and creativity. To correct the mistake of leaving Africa behind, the world must first understand Africa, and Africans must project what we stand for,” he said.

President of the LSA and convener of the conference, Prof. Saheed Aderinto, described this year’s gathering as the largest in the association’s history, featuring over 340 panels.

He noted that when the collaboration with Trinity University began, the organisers were confident in the institution’s ability to support LSA’s mission of youth empowerment, intellectual development, and the dissemination of knowledge.

Aderinto stated that the conference seeks to address major debates in global African Studies, particularly around the notion of knowledge and access to it.

“We are not only increasing access,” he said, “we are diversifying the knowledge system.” He emphasized that the hospitality extended by Trinity University is not just to the association but to the broader architecture of knowledge in Africa and the world.

The conference includes cultural performances by some of Nigeria’s finest troupes, representing diverse ethnic traditions and reflecting the realities of the country. The week-long event will conclude with an award ceremony, where LSA will recognise members who have excelled in workshops and professional development opportunities.

According to Professor Aderinto, the conference has brought together scholars from across the globe to position Africa at the centre of African Studies.

He stressed that through knowledge exchange and critical conversations, LSA provides a safe space for scholars to engage with ideas shaping African interests and values. This, he said, will help address challenges facing Africans on the world stage and reshape how people critically think about the continent’s future.