In an attempt to strengthen tertiary education in Africa, the World Bank is

collaborating with the Association of Africa Universities (AAU) to establish Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) in the continent.

The AAU's Director, Research and Academic Planning and Coordinator, Professor Jonathan Mba said the centre was aimed at generating knowledge through research that would in turn drive developmental agendas in Africa.

Speaking while paying a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Isaac Adewole, Mba spoke on the activities of the association. He said the project was an initiative of the World Bank to tackle common regional developmental challenges, adding that part of the measures put in place to achieve this includes, an evaluation and assessment tour of a team of delegation of the AAU to some designated Universities in Africa.

He explained that the visit was intended to evaluate UI's level of preparedness to be listed as one of the centres of excellence in Africa.

In his remark, the Vice Chancellor, Great Zimbabwe University, Professor Zrobgo Rungari, noted that University of Ibadan had always been a key player in tertiary education in Africa, hence, the need to involve the institution in actualising the Africa Higher Education centre of Excellence project is needed.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan Professor Adewole said the

University was determined to key into the activities of the World Bank and AAU to help improve the standard of education in Africa. He said UI is ready to render necessary assistance to ensure the success of the project.