The usually serene German Consulate in Lagos bustled with enthusiasm and vivacity a few days ago as dozens of Nigerian scholars trained in Germany gathered for the DAAD and Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung Alumni Networking Meeting. It was an afternoon of ideas, innovation and research which dovetailed into an evening of networking, dancing and deepening of ties between Nigeria and Germany.
From the moment guests walked into the hall, the air felt different, academic yet warm, formal yet hopeful. Scholars, diplomats, researchers and university administrators filled the room, their conversations humming with possibilities for the future.
Before the event officially kicked off with German Consul-General to Lagos, Daniel Krull, addressing the academicians, there were cocktails to welcome the scholars, with a few of them gladly taking the opportunity to share testimonials on camera in a quiet part of the living area cum conference hall.
“This whole idea was to offer you a platform to network,” Krull said in his opening remarks, smiling to the scholars now seated in five rows of approximately 10 seats each.“But I’m also hoping I will learn a lot from you…and I’m very happy to try to assist you in whatever challenges you are facing to further improve cooperation between scientific institutions.”
His words set the tone for the evening of collaboration, learning, and lasting partnerships as the scholars took turns at being bothered tutor and student, as research presentations began.
The showcase was led by DAAD and Humboldt alumni from institutions across Nigeria, each stepping forward to share work that reflected years of study, collaboration and scientific curiosity. Topics moved easily from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to antimicrobial resistance, agriculture, and digital humanities.
Each presentation ended with questions, discussions and quiet nods from listeners who understood the weight of the work being shared.
One of the most moving moments came when Professor Sola Ajayi, a Professor of Seed Technology at Obafemi Awolowo University and Vice-Chancellor of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, reflected on his academic journey.
“I had the privilege of being awarded a German doctoral scholarship in 1999,” he said. “It is my privilege to always recommend anyone to take advantage of the German academic exchange.”
His voice carried years of gratitude. That scholarship, he explained, helped him establish Nigeria’s first seed science and technology laboratory and opened doors to grants, research invitations and global partnerships that still follow him today.
Another scholar, an Associate Professor of German at the University of Lagos, shared how DAAD support gave birth to the institution’s German programme.
“In 2023, we had the first intake of students, and now the programme is running,” he said. “It’s a four-year course and the students will finish with a BA in German.”
Clearing fears often tied to studying abroad, he added softly, “It’s not a must to know German in order to study in Germany… many courses are taught in English, and studying there is quite affordable compared to the UK or the US.”
For Dr. Ralph Nyadu-Addo, a Ghanaian scholar who has spent over 25 years in Germany, the message to young Africans was simple; prepare well and opportunity will meet you.
“They are not racist, they are just principled,” he said calmly. “Once you qualify, nobody will ask you any questions.”
He spoke of Germany’s demand for skilled workers and the freedom of education from kindergarten to PhD, urging Africans to see beyond fear and misinformation.
Professor Oluwatoyin A. Odeku of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s Humboldt Ambassador Scientist, described the Humboldt Fellowship not as a one-time award, but a lifetime academic relationship.
“The thing about the Humboldt fellowship that endears it to me is that it is a life fellowship. They support you throughout your academic career,” she said.
Today, her mentoring network stretches across more than 60 universities in Nigeria, quietly shaping the next generation of Nigerian researchers.
As the academic session drew to a close, the mood gently shifted. Guests made their way downstairs into the garden for the networking reception.
Under flowing white canopies and soft decorative lights, tables were adorned with neatly laid cutlery, as warm meals and chilled drinks helped to ease the exchange of conversations and contacts that started earlier in the conference hall.
From one corner of the garden, the sonorous sound of a live band wafted through the air…slow melodies first, then livelier Afrobeat tunes that loosened shoulders and lifted spirits. Laughter rose, and soon, a few guests stepped forward to dance in front of the band, drawing cheers and gentle applause from those seated. It was no longer just a meeting, it felt like community.
Beyond the speeches, beyond the data and fellowships, the gathering carried a deeper meaning, that science, knowledge and human connection remain some of the strongest bridges between nations.
The 2025 DAAD and Humboldt Alumni gathering did not end with applause alone. It ended with new partnerships waiting to happen, ideas waiting to be tested, and relationships strong enough to outlive one evening at the German Consulate in Lagos.
Ademide Adebayo
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