The University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom (UK) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to run a degree programme in Nigeria, marking a new phase in education collaboration.
The agreement was signed on Thursday at the UNILAG campus auditorium. The signing ceremony was witnessed by representatives of the University of Birmingham, the British High Commission in Lagos, officials of the National Universities Commission, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Nick Vaughan-Williams, provost and vice-principal of the University of Birmingham, described the agreement as a commitment of two institutions “to make students benefit from the UK varsity in Lagos”. He said future collaboration between Nigeria and the UK must be rooted in quality, academic integrity and mutual benefit.
According to him, the partnership must align with Nigeria’s national priorities, regulatory frameworks and ambitions for the higher education system. Vaughan-Williams added that the initiative reflects “our wider commitment to global engagement that is thought to build capacity, to share knowledge and to contribute to social and economic development”.
He explained that the learning process under the partnership will include academic provision, student experience, governance, infrastructure, regulatory requirements and financial sustainability. “It commits our two great institutions, the University of Birmingham and the University of Lagos, to work together in a structured, evidence-led way to explore how we might work together to enable students to benefit from both a Unilag and University of Birmingham education right here in Lagos,” he said.
“Any future collaboration between us must be rooted in quality, academic integrity and mutual benefit. It must align with Nigeria’s national priorities, regulatory frameworks, and ambitions for the higher education system, and it must strengthen the standing of both our institutions and our nations,” Vaughan-Williams added.
Jonny Baxter, deputy British commissioner, said the partnership offers a practical solution to bringing UK education to Nigeria while expanding access to UK degrees. He noted that the collaboration will also expose students to emerging fields that support economic growth.
“We are all aware that Nigeria’s higher education sector faces significant capacity challenges, with over 1.3 million qualified students unable to secure admission,” Baxter said. “Partnerships like this are a practical solution, intending to bring UK education to Nigeria and expand access to high-quality UK degrees.”
Baxter added that artificial intelligence (AI) and data science are key focus areas of the partnership. “Artificial intelligence and data science are critical to the future of work and economic growth,” he said.
Hadiza Ismaila, director of academic staff training and development at UNILAG, said the MoU exemplifies a shared commitment to advancing research collaboration, postgraduate training, and global academic engagement between both institutions.
Tunji Alausa, minister of education, said the federal government, through its transnational education policy, aims to boost access to tertiary education, ease placement pressures, and promote the exchange of ideas and research. He said the MoU reflects the policy’s objective of attracting foreign investment and funding to institutions, driving growth and development in Nigeria’s education sector.
Alausa added that the collaboration will drive innovation, research, and skill development, noting that the government is “creating an ecosystem that fosters critical thinking and creativity, empowering graduates for global competition”.
