The League of Tropical Universities 2026 Summit kicked off on Wednesday at Hainan University in Haikou, Hainan province, where leaders delivered a message that only by sharing resources and experiences can tropical universities tackle their common challenges.

Ange Antoine Abena, president of Denis Sassou Nguesso University in the Republic of the Congo, identified three critical challenges: ecological protection, tropical medicine and pharmaceuticals, and modern agricultural technology, all of which are research priorities at his university. To address them, his institution is building advanced laboratories and plans to share access with other LTU members, while hoping to tap into teaching and research resources from across the league.

Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, echoed that vision. His university is already collaborating with North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power and seeks to expand partnerships with campuses across China. He noted that his institution plays an active role in multiple African university associations, emphasizing the value of existing cooperative networks.