Africa have about 1225 officially registered higher education institutions

(https://www.4icu.org/Africa/). Some of them are founded by formal colonizers and while

others through national and local initiatives. The majority of these institutions are Euro-

Centric in their approach. This text will investigate briefly what is expected of African higher

education to transform societies to the better.

The study is based on analysis of secondary data searched and found from Google Scholar,

ERIC, and Primo database. Terms such as Higher education in Africa, African higher

education, possibilities and limitations of African higher education are used for the search.

15 articles relevant to the purpose of the study are identified and used.

The result of the study shows that African universities need local epistemologies and

knowledge production systems to identify, research and propose solutions to local

problems. Teaching and research should take in to consideration social experiences and

knowledge of the local communities. Local languages should be considered to undertake

research, to distribute knowledge and to secure communities’ engagement.

Teachings and research need to address the political unrest, social injustice, economic

underdevelopment and technological backwardness most countries are facing. Focus on the

local realities and transformation should be prioritized instead of international competition

and commodification of higher education. For transforming higher education to focus on

local context, there is a need that the management, administration and academic staff

students as well as the society at large should stand together.