The city of Ziguinchor has established itself as the academic capital of the sub-region. Assane Seck University (UASZ) hosted the Conference of Universities of the Southern Rivers, bringing together rectors, institutional authorities, partners, and students from Senegal, The Gambia, Cape Verde, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. More than just an academic gathering, the event became a powerful symbol of academic cooperation and solidarity in service of African integration.

For the rector of Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor, it is: a historic, fraternal moment focused on youth.

In his address, Rector Professor Alassane Diédhiou expressed "immense joy, profound gratitude, and a sense of pride" in hosting this conference. He stated that "welcoming eminent university officials and delegations from diverse backgrounds is both an honor and a further source of motivation in our daily commitment to higher education and research."

He emphasized the symbolic significance of the event: "The presence of delegations from Cape Verde, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia gives this meeting a truly supra-regional and fraternal dimension."

The rector also highlighted the central role of students: "They are the reason for our universities' existence. Their involvement in this edition reflects our desire to place African university youth at the heart of discussions and policies."

Presiding over the ceremony, the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Professor Daouda Ngom, gave a personal testimony: “It is always a pleasure for me to come to Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor, because as I often say, it is my beloved university. I took my first steps in higher education there and stayed there for eight years.”

He emphasized the relevance of this meeting in a context marked by the massification and instability of universities: "It is an excellent thing that the universities of the Southern Rivers are joining forces to pool their strengths, facilitate the mobility of students and teachers, co-develop research projects and share resources."

The minister stressed the need for strengthened academic integration: "This is an experience to be renewed and reinforced. The government is committed to promoting this type of meeting, which helps to strengthen African and sub-regional integration."

Beyond the scientific work, this conference has established itself as a powerful symbol: that of an open, ambitious African university committed to cooperation. By hosting this event, UASZ has affirmed its position as a major player in academic dialogue and the strengthening of university ties in the sub-region.