…as New Board Sets Bold Reform Agenda
The National Universities Commission, NUC, has received €3 million as the initial tranche of a $40 million facility obtained from the French Development Agency, AFD, to drive major ICT transformation projects in 10 selected universities.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, announced this on Wednesday at the inaugural meeting of the 13th NUC Board in Abuja.
Ribadu said the deposit, confirmed on Tuesday, marks the formal commencement of the ICT Blueprint Project, a key component of the Commission’s ongoing digital revitalisation agenda.
The NUC boss noted that over the past year, the Commission has intensified efforts to reposition the Nigerian university system through initiatives focused on research expansion, entrepreneurship development, digital transformation, and skills enhancement.
“We have secured a $40 million loan from the French Development Agency for the ICT Blueprint Project in 10 selected universities. Only yesterday, the Director confirmed to me that the first tranche of €3 million has been deposited into our CBN account to kick-start the process,” he said.
According to him, NUC has also strengthened internal financial management systems, broadened access to university education through the licensing of new private institutions, and approved a range of additional programmes and academic units.
He noted that the take-off of new public universities has also been supported alongside the expansion of open and distance learning centres and sustained quality assurance exercises, adding that the 2025 Accreditation Exercise is currently underway.
“These priorities remain the anchor of the Commission’s direction, and I am seeking the Board’s support to advance them,” Ribadu said, assuring the members of full cooperation from the Commission’s management.
He emphasised that the experience and networks of the Board will be critical as the NUC navigates an era of rapid changes in global higher education.
“We will rely on your wisdom to guide us. Your collective experience will strengthen the Commission’s ability to steer the Nigerian university system at a time when higher education continues to evolve,” he added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the 13th NUC Board, Emeritus Prof. Oluremi Raphael Aina, expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support for the sector. He noted that the Board is assuming responsibility at a pivotal period, as universities worldwide face rising standards and intensifying competition.
Aina unveiled five strategic pillars that will guide the Board’s stewardship: performance evaluation, improved global rankings, enhanced digital literacy, strengthened research capacity, and institutional reforms.
He said the Board would begin by reviewing the NUC’s enabling Act, key amendments, institutional vision, principles, and operational challenges.
This, he added, would be benchmarked against global standards to identify gaps and areas requiring bold adjustments.
Aina stressed that the Board would work in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, which positions education as a central pillar of national renewal.
This includes engaging stakeholders to address longstanding industrial disputes within the university system.
He also underscored the need for universities to adopt artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to raise their competitiveness, both nationally and globally, including improvements in global and Webometric rankings.
Other priorities outlined include identifying and eliminating systemic obstacles to quality, addressing funding gaps, expanding sustainable financing options, and improving the welfare and capacity of NUC staff to strengthen regulatory oversight.
“The system cannot outperform its operators. Credible accreditation and monitoring require strengthened conditions of service and protected regulatory independence,” he said.
Aina added that the Board will embrace digital tools to streamline its work. “We will leverage technology through digital platforms to advance our collective objectives. This Board carries the expectations and aspirations of the Nigerian people, and we must meet them with dedication,” he said.
