In a strategic move to position Nigeria’s University system for global relevance, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has donated $40 million to 10 Federal Universities in the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa presented the official notification of selection to the Vice-Chancellors of the beneficiary universities in Abuja on Tuesday.
Alausa, while appreciating the donor stated that the Blueprint-ICT-Dev project was not just a technological upgrade but a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian education.
He added that the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project was designed to strengthen institutional ICT infrastructure, enable hybrid and cross-border learning, improve education data systems for evidence-based policymaking, promote technical and vocational education through digital tools, and expand digital education in underserved communities.
Speaking further, he said the latest intervention targets higher education with a specific focus on building smart campuses, promoting hybrid learning, improving research infrastructure, and embedding digital systems across universities.
“Blueprint-ICT-Dev is not just a technological upgrade. It is a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian education, supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, urged the universities to begin the automation of institutional processes. He lamented that the delay in obtaining transcripts have made graduates miss out on scholarships, admission and job opportunities:
“In line with this vision, I urge all universities, both those participating in the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project and those awaiting future phases, to begin the automation of institutional processes, including but not limited to:
Staff and student data management, online processing of academic results and transcripts, digitised governance and administration workflows.
“I also urge all Vice-Chancellors to view the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) as more than just a broadband network, but rather as the digital lifeline of our academic community,” he said.
The Blueprint-ICT-Dev project began in 2018, when the NUC developed a revitalisation blueprint for Nigeria’s university system, identifying ICT as the linchpin of meaningful reform. Out of 26 federal universities established before 2011, 10 were selected through a competitive process that included proposal assessments and site visits.
The selected universities include the University of Calabar in the South-South; University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in the South-East; University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in the South-West; Federal University of Technology, Minna and University of Jos in the North-Central; University of Maiduguri and Modibbo Adama University, Yola in the North-East; and Bayero University, Kano in the North-West.
These institutions, according to Dr. Alausa, are expected to serve as Centres of Excellence in ICT integration and education innovation, especially in teacher training, digital skills, online learning, and research management.
The event was presided over by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and witnessed by key stakeholders, including the French Ambassador to Nigeria, representatives of the French AFD, Vice-Chancellors, and development partners.
