African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) convened a pivotal Deputy Vice-Chancellors (DVC) meeting at the University of Dar es Salaam (August 27th and 28th) to discuss strategies towards collaborative research and innovation across African universities. The event brought together esteemed leaders, including Professor Akanni Ibukun Akinyemi, DVC for Research, Innovation, and Development at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), to discuss ARUA’s transformative projects. The discussions focused on strengthening research ecosystems and fostering sustainable development through shared expertise.