36th edition of 'Conversas da Casa da Lusofonia' looks ahead to Cape Verde's future

The 36th edition of the “Conversas da Casa da Lusofonia” (Conversations at the House of Lusophony) was dedicated to Cape Verde, as the country celebrates 50 years of independence. The session was opened by João Nuno Calvão da Silva, Vice-Rector for External Relations and Alumni of the University of Coimbra (UC), who praised President José Maria Neves, describing him as “a man of great stature, whose prestige extends far beyond the borders of Cape Verde and who, I would say, is an invaluable political reference for the whole of Portuguese-speaking Africa.”

He added that the President “has been instrumental in consolidating the democratic rule of law through his remarkable contribution”, which has been “crucial to Cape Verde’s social and economic development.” João Nuno Calvão da Silva concluded that, as President of the Republic of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves is “an example of good governance and an inspiring figure.”

In his lecture “Cape Verde 2075: A New Land”, President José Maria Neves shared his hopes for the country’s next 50 years, highlighting the ambition to build a modern, fair and prosperous nation by making the most of available resources. He also pointed to strong prospects for closer ties with the University of Coimbra, particularly in areas such as the blue economy and digital technologies, complementing existing partnerships in sports, health, law, and the social sciences. For José Maria Neves, a former student of UC’s Faculty of Law, this visit to Coimbra is like “a homecoming.” He emphasised that “Cape Verde’s greatest treasure is its people, and that the UC has long been a place where these precious gems are carefully polished,” adding that “coming back to Coimbra feels like returning to a hub of new opportunities for Cape Verde.”

“The University of Coimbra is proud to be a centre for critical thinking, knowledge sharing and building connections — across fields, generations, and, as we saw today, between countries united by language and a rich cultural heritage,” said Amílcar Falcão, UC’s Rector. The bond between the UC and Cape Verde is strong and steadily growing. Amílcar Falcão highlighted the university’s support for Cape Verde’s medical degree programme, recent collaborations in science and technology, and an upcoming partnership with IPN (Instituto Pedro Nunes). “Coimbra has long played a crucial role in training Cape Verdean professionals, and we look forward to continuing this tradition,” he added.

The event closed with a performance by the Cape Verdean Students’ Association in Coimbra and was held on Monday, 2 June, at the Colégio da Trindade.