College for Advancement of Academics (CAA) · Founding Ceremony & Inaugural Lecture
Reimagining the African Academic
“Reclaiming Knowledge, Advancing Excellence and Building Africa's Future”
The formal public inauguration of the College for Advancement of Academics, held on the commemoration of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. Featuring the landmark Inaugural Lecture by distinguished scholar Prof. Toyin Falola.
Date
Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Nyerere Commemoration
Time
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM WAT
11:00 GMT · 14:00 EAT
Stream Format
Open Live Broadcast
100% Free · Barrier-Free
Continental Scope
54 Sovereign Nations
Open to All Faculty
Transmission Commences In:
“Reclaiming Knowledge, Advancing Excellence and Building Africa's Future”
Join the Live Stream on 14 October
100% Free · No registration or password required to attend.
The African Academic as Public Intellectual
“Between the Ivory Tower and the Village Square”
To be delivered by Professor Toyin Falola, whose distinguished scholarship and longstanding contributions to African intellectual history, knowledge production, and higher education provide an especially fitting intellectual foundation for the public beginning of CAA.
Prof. Toyin Falola
Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities, UT Austin · Former Kluge Chair, Library of Congress · Author of 160+ Books · 28 Honorary Doctorates · Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters · Bobapitan of Ibadanland.
Official Schedule
Programme of Events
Wednesday, 14 October 2026 · 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m. (WAT)
Opening and Welcome
Moment of Reflection: Honouring Mwalimu Julius Nyerere & the Founding of CAA
Welcome Address & Introduction to the College for Advancement of Academics
Presentation of CAA: Vision, Mission, and Continental Institutional Framework
Goodwill & Founding Remarks
Inaugural Lecture: The African Academic as Public Intellectual — Between the Ivory Tower and the Village Square
Continental Reflections and Responses
CAA Founders’ Day / Nyerere Day Statement, Closing & Appreciation
Continental Broadcast Times
Join Across Pan-African Time Zones
WAT (West Africa Time / UTC+1)
Cities: Lagos, Abuja, Luanda, Kinshasa, Yaoundé
GMT / UTC
Cities: Accra, Dakar, Freetown, Monrovia, London
CAT / SAST (UTC+2)
Cities: Kigali, Johannesburg, Harare, Cairo, Gaborone
EAT (East Africa Time / UTC+3)
Cities: Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Kampala
Founding Framework
Significance of the Founding Ceremony
Founding Transition
Marking CAA’s transition from conceptual and preparatory planning into active continental institutional life, establishing a lasting professional platform.
Julius Nyerere Commemoration
Convening on 14 October to honour Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s enduring legacy of education, African self-reliance, and intellectual sovereignty.
The Public Intellectual
Reflecting with Prof. Toyin Falola on the responsibilities of African scholars between the ivory tower and the pressing developmental realities of society.
Institutional Framework
Unveiling CAA’s specialised schools and centres, governance models, professional learning pathways, and continental partnerships across 54 nations.
Message from the Founders' Team
“CAA is founded on the conviction that the strength of African higher education depends not only on institutions, infrastructure and policies, but fundamentally on the quality, confidence, integrity, professional development and collective advancement of the academic profession.”
Prof. Ahmed Adedeji
Chair, Founders' Team · College for Advancement of Academics
Ceremony Logistics
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register to watch the live ceremony?
No. The live broadcast is 100% open, complimentary, and barrier-free to all academics, researchers, and students across 54 nations. You can watch directly on this page or on our YouTube channel (@caaafrica) on 14 October 2026 without signing up.
How can I receive notifications when the stream goes live?
Subscribe to our official YouTube channel (@caaafrica) with notifications turned on, or click the Google Calendar / .ics Invite button above to add the ceremony to your schedule.
Why is the Founding Ceremony held on 14 October?
The ceremony deliberately coincides with the commemoration of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, whose life and vision symbolize African self-reliance, education, and human development. It inaugurates CAA Founders’ Day / Nyerere Day as an annual occasion.
Can I receive a certificate for attending?
Yes. An attendance registration link will be shared directly during the broadcast on caa.africa/live for delegates requesting an official commemorative certificate of participation.
Will recordings and the Inaugural Lecture text be published?
Yes. The full video recording, transcript, and the written text of Prof. Toyin Falola’s Inaugural Lecture will be permanently archived and made accessible on this page following the conclusion of the ceremony.
Join the Continental Assembly of African Scholars
The live broadcast is complimentary, open access, and barrier-free to all academics across 54 sovereign nations. Set your stream reminder or explore the College before the inaugural broadcast.
