Commonwealth University Leaders Conference Gets New Date, Venue Moves To Lagos

The organisers of the Commonwealth University Leaders Conference have announced a new date and venue for the much-anticipated gathering of higher education leaders across the Commonwealth.

The conference, which was initially scheduled to be held in Abuja in April, will now take place on 21 to 22 May 2026 in Lagos.

According to the organisers, the decision to move the event from Abuja was based on careful consideration of prevailing security concerns and the need to ensure the safety, comfort, and smooth participation of delegates from Nigeria and abroad.

They explained that the new arrangements were reached after extensive consultations with university stakeholders, participating institutions, security actors, and other partners committed to the conference’s success.

A statement from the organising committee noted that the revised date has already been warmly received, with most universities that had previously registered confirming their participation for the Lagos edition.

The organisers also expressed relief that a significant number of international delegates have reconfirmed their attendance, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the conference and its objectives.

“We are pleased that the overwhelming majority of institutions that registered earlier have reaffirmed their commitment to participate, and that our international guests have also confirmed their attendance,” the statement, signed by Dammy Sanyaolu, Head of Administration of the Local Organising Committee.

The conference is expected to bring together Vice Chancellors, university presidents, policymakers, scholars, and education sector leaders to discuss pressing issues affecting higher education across the Commonwealth, including governance, funding, innovation, international collaboration, and the future of universities.

Organisers added that the shift in date also creates a fresh opportunity for university leaders who were unable to meet the earlier April registration deadline to take part in the May conference.

“This is an opportunity for institutions that could not complete arrangements for the earlier date to now join what promises to be a landmark gathering of university leaders,” the statement added.

The Commonwealth University Leaders Conference is expected to strengthen collaboration among institutions and provide a platform for shaping the future of higher education across member nations.

Interested participants can register by visiting the link below https://ciaps.org/event/commonwealth-institute-universities-leaders-conference/