Envision a top university where a Kenyan academic works with their Senegalese peer to tackle an agricultural problem that both countries face. Imagine a research institute where innovative ideas are not just encouraged, but also financially supported, thoughtfully mentored, and turned into commercially available products. This is the case for the Pan African University for Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI).
PAULESI is a project of the African Union Commission (AUC), stemming from a 2009 Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union decision. Located in Nigeria’s first university, University of Ibadan, PAULESI is Africa’s answer to an important question: How can the African continent develop its own homegrown experts to handle its own Africa-specific problems?
As PAULESI clearly shows, the solution to this question lies in regional cooperation, high-quality post-graduate education, and an unyielding dedication to converting scholarly research into real-life applications that enhance the lives of all people.
Overview of Pan African University for Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI)
PAULESI, the Pan African University for Life and Earth Sciences Institute (including Health and Agriculture), is situated at the University of Ibadan, the foremost institution of higher education in Nigeria. Pan African University for Life and Earth Sciences Institute (including Health and Agriculture) PAULESI is an institution that exclusively offers postgraduate programs.
The African Union Commission provides full sponsorship for all pupils, who are admitted from all member states of the African Union.
The Pan African University (PAU) is a Continental initiative of the African Union Commission (AUC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Pan African University (EX.CL/579 (XVII)) is the result of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the African Union’s decision to establish it in 2009.
The University has five institutes that are situated in the five subregions of Africa. Nigeria was awarded the opportunity to host the Institute of Life and Earth Sciences for West Africa at the University of Ibadan in Ibadan following a competitive tendering process.
The objective of Pan African University is to establish institutions of distinction in governance, social sciences, innovation, technology, and science, which will serve as the foundation for a higher education and research pool in Africa.
The Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI) provides sixteen programs with a variety of options, including Health and Agriculture. These programs are exclusively available at the Master’s and Ph.D. levels.
Programs offered by PAULESI
Master of Science (MSc) in:
- Environmental Management
- Geosciences (Mineral Exploration & Petroleum Geoscience options)
- Reproductive Health Science
- Plant Breeding
- Medicinal Plants Research and Drug Development
- Sport Management and Policy Development
- Veterinary Medicine (Avian Medicine & Vaccine Production and Quality Control Options
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in:
- Environmental Management
- Geosciences (Mineral Exploration & Petroleum Geoscience options)
- Reproductive Health Science
- Plant Breeding
Admission: Gateways for Africa’s Brightest Minds
PAULESI welcomes applicants from all African Union member states, creating a truly pan-African learning environment. The admission process is competitive, reflecting the Institute’s commitment to excellence.
General Requirements
- Outstanding academic achievement at Bachelor’s (for MSc) or Master’s (for PhD) levels
- Strong leadership potential and enterprising spirit
- ICT literacy and proficiency in English or French
- Satisfactory medical report for specific programs
Master’s Applicants
- Minimum of Second Class Upper Division Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- Programs operate on a Course Unit (CU) system requiring at least 15 CUs per semester
- Candidates must complete coursework before research commencement
- One seminar presentation is required before graduation
- Thesis submission and oral defense are mandatory
PhD Applicants
- Master’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized university
- Research proposal of 3-10 pages in the intended area of study
- Coursework component followed by approximately two years of thesis research
- Public oral defense of the thesis before graduation
The African Union strongly encourages female candidates to apply, reflecting a commitment to gender equity in African science leadership
The Research Agenda: Aligning Scholarship with Continental Needs
PAULESI’s first Research Agenda Workshop took place in February 2026. This initiative helps to ensure that the Institute’s research areas are aligned with the needs of the African continent. Professor Mubo Sonibare stated that the Research Agenda is essentially a roadmap to align institutional resources with the pressing needs of society, labor market demand, and academic needs Connected with excellence.
The workshop attracted a wide range of expertise from research institutes, industries, and academia to deal with important issues such as the following:
The role of collaborative partnerships and the provision of funds in the quest for research excellence
The formulation of the appropriate research management and funding strategies
Research priorities of the continent and the significance of a pan African collaborative effort
Safeguarding and exploiting university professors’ intellectual property
The Research Agenda drawn from this workshop is intended to be a “boundless stretch for student research and a roadmap for the Institute to follow” so that the research activities of PAULESI contribute directly to the SDGs and Agenda 2063.
Governance and Leadership
PAULESI hinges on strong governance frameworks which ensure accountability and direction. In April 2025, Professor Mubo Sonibare took over as the Director, following the interim management of Deputy Director Professor Micheal Olagunjoye.
The Board of Governance of the Institute meets twice yearly to bring together the academic and institutional stakeholders to assess progress, deliberate on strategic issues, and determine how to strengthen PAULESI to fulfill its vision to be “a continental hub of academic and research excellence.” The meetings are spearheaded by Professor Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale, the Vice Rector of the Pan African University, thus ensuring compliance with the Pan African University (PAU) initiatives.
Employment at PAULESI
Apply for job opportunities at PAULESI through their portal
Part time lecturing job through
https://paulesi.org.ng/parttime/
Contact PAULESI
Telephone
+234-703-501-5980
Email Address
Website:
Official Opening Times
Monday – Friday: 8.00am – 16:00pm
Conclusion: Africa’s Future, Forged in Ibadan
To many, PAULESI is more than a postgraduate institute. It speaks to a vision of African self-reliance and intellectual leadership; of collaborating to resolve issues. To many stakeholders, including Policy Makers and Development Partners, Africa has been a continent defined by its challenges, either globally or regionally.
PAULESI tells a different story: one of brilliant young people developing solutions, launching enterprises, and coming back to build “the Africa we want.”
The Institute of African Pan-Africanism and Development (IPAPD) has its graduates from the Plant breeding student developing drought-resistant maize for smallholder farmers, to the Reproductive Health scholar saving mothers’ lives, to the Medicinal Plant researcher from Africa’s Biodiversity-PAULESI’s impact multiplies with every graduating class of African young visionaries.
The last two decades of African socio and economic progress as measured by the United Nations (UN) and the AU in the African Union Agenda 2063 framework have been greatly achieved through dedicated and selfless organizations such as PAULESI. If the vision seen and achieved on the PAULESI Ibadan campus is anything to go by, Africa’s future is in very good hands, and those hands are being molded today.
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