The Florida/West Africa Linkage Institute

In 1991 the Florida State Legislature created FLAWI – The Florida/West Africa Institute  to help promote  cultural, academic, and economic exchanges between the state and the West African region. It is one of eleven such institutes which are administered at affiliate universities and colleges and is based at the model at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.  Affiliate colleges include Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and Florida Community College at Jacksonville.

Strategic Plan Summary

FLAWI will continue to effectively encourage and expand the cultural, educational and economic linkages between Florida and our sixteen West African partner countries. The Florida West Africa Linkage Institute will also continue to explore agreements for exchange of faculty and students, and for joint research projects between institutions of higher education in Florida and West Africa. The Institute will cooperate with interested chambers of commerce, governmental and non-governmental organizations to develop existing potentials for trade expansion. FLAWI will actively promote cultural exchanges between communities in West Africa and the State of Florida. This Linkage Institute will provide qualified students non-resident tuition waivers, within the limits of the waivers available, to pursue a higher education at state universities and colleges in Florida. FLAWI will also explore opportunities for grants and contracts, related to its strategic objectives, and will organize conferences or seminars, as appropriate, to familiarize faculty and community members across the State of Florida with the economies, cultures and political systems of its West African partners.

A Diverse and Dynamic Region

The West Africa region consists of sixteen countries with a total population estimate of 220 million people, spanning over 2,500 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the interior of the continent. The countries are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Maliu, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Of these sixteen countries, French is the official language in nine, English in five, Portuguese in two, and both French and Arabic in one. There are also hundreds of indigenous African languages from Akan to Yoruba which are commonly spoken in this region.

West Africa’s land surface is mostly flat. The tallest mountains on the continental mainland are about 3,000 feet high; the highest peak is Mount Fogo in the island nation of Cape Verde. The area is rich in natural resources from gold and diamonds to phosphates and manganese. The built environment includes mega cities like Lagos in Nigeria, with a population of 4 million people, skyscraper buildings and clover-leaf freeways. the flowering tree-lined boulevards of Kumasi in Ghana have given it the nickname of The Garden City of Africa.

The sun-washed edifices of Mali are reminiscent of the glory days of trans-Saharan trade caravans. Even though West Africa has been beset with tremendous economic problems in the past, many of these countries have recently implemented reforms to improve their economies and promote development. West Africa is one of the largest and fastest growing regions of the world. These nations are eager to improve the social, economic, and educational conditions of their people. Therefore, there is a high demand for the products and services which Florida’s public and private sectors can provide to West Africa. The cultural and natural resources of West Africa offer a wealth of opportunities for Florida business enterprises. Establishing and strengthening cooperative linkages will benefit these partners on both sides of the Atlantic.

contact

Florida West Africa Linkage Institute
University of North Florida ; 1 UNF Drive; Jacksonville, Florida 32224
Telephone: (904)620-2475, Fax: (904) 620-3870