10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

This study examines the institutional impact of the Centre for Internationalisation and Strategic Partnership (CISP) at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, from 2009 upto 2026. Established to propel the university into the global academic arena, CISP has served as a critical vehicle for advancing higher education excellence, fostering regional collaboration, and driving sustainable development. Utilizing historical and multidisplinary methods of data collection and analysis comprising institutional data analysis, policy reviews, and stakeholder interviews—this research evaluates the strategic mechanisms employed by the Centre to expand the university’s global footprint and the impact of these on regional collaboration and Sustainable Development over the study period. The findings reveal that between 2009 and 2026, CISP successfully facilitated over a hundred bilateral partnerships, significantly increasing international faculty and student mobility, collaborative research outputs, and cross-border curriculum development. Within the West African sub-region, the Centre anchored vital academic networks that addressed localized challenges through shared intellectual capital, thereby strengthening regional integration. Joint research initiatives brokered by the Centre yielded actionable solutions in renewable energy, food security, and public health, directly benefiting local and regional communities. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates that CISP has not only elevated the University of Ilorin’s global ranking and academic prestige but has also established a robust blueprint for how African higher education institutions can leverage strategic internationalisation to foster sustainable societal growth.