Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somalia’s Daaru Salam University (DSU) in a move aimed at strengthening academic cooperation, research partnerships and cultural exchange between the two institutions.
The agreement, signed virtually by the leadership of both universities, forms part of MAAUN’s broader strategy to expand its international footprint and build stronger ties with higher education institutions across Africa and beyond.
Under the partnership, both institutions will collaborate in key areas including faculty and student exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, academic publications, curriculum development and scientific cooperation. The agreement is also expected to foster greater cultural understanding and knowledge-sharing between scholars and students from Nigeria and Somalia.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the President of MAAUN, Prof. Mohammad Israr, said the partnership was designed to establish a mutually beneficial relationship built on academic, scientific and cultural cooperation.
According to him, the collaboration will create opportunities for the exchange of professors, researchers and students, while also encouraging joint research projects and academic programmes that can contribute to solving contemporary challenges facing African societies.
On his part, the Chancellor and Founder of Daaru Salam University, Dr. Osman Mohamed, expressed confidence that the agreement would promote research, innovation and academic excellence. He pledged the university’s commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of the MoU to achieve its objectives.
The Vice President (Administration) of MAAUN, Dr. Habib Awais Abubakar, described the agreement as an important step toward expanding educational opportunities and strengthening cooperation between institutions in Africa. He expressed optimism that the partnership would yield tangible benefits for students, researchers and faculty members of both universities.
Part of MAAUN’s Internationalisation Drive
The latest agreement is one of several partnerships signed by MAAUN in recent years as the university intensifies efforts to internationalise its academic programmes and enhance its global visibility.
The Kano-based institution has entered into similar collaborations with universities and organisations in Ethiopia, Russia, Chad, The Gambia and other countries, focusing on research development, academic exchange and cultural cooperation.
In May 2026, MAAUN also signed a partnership agreement with Bayero University, Kano (BUK), covering faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, conferences, academic publications and scholarship opportunities.
Growing Importance of Cross-Border Academic Partnerships
Across Africa, universities are increasingly embracing international partnerships as a means of improving research output, expanding access to expertise and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.
Education experts say such collaborations enable institutions to pool resources, share best practices and address common developmental challenges through joint research and innovation. They also provide students and academics with opportunities for international exposure and intercultural engagement.
For MAAUN and Daaru Salam University, the new agreement is expected to open fresh avenues for academic cooperation while strengthening educational ties between Nigeria and Somalia.This version is structured in a newspaper style, with added background, context, and broader significance beyond the original announcement.
