The National Universities Commission has confirmed that it has received €3m as the first tranche of the $40 million loan secured from the French Development Agency to support Information, Communication and Technology projects in 10 selected universities across the country. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Abdullahi Ribadu, made this known during the inaugural meeting of the 13th NUC Board held on Wednesday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Ribadu explained that since assuming office about a year ago, the commission has continued to push major reforms centred on research, entrepreneurship, digital transformation and skills development in Nigerian universities. He stated, “We have secured $40 million loan from the French Development Agency for the ICT Blueprint Project in 10 selected universities. We have strengthened – only yesterday, the director confirmed to me that the first tranche of €3m has been deposited in our CBN account to kick-start the process.”
He also highlighted progress in internal reforms and expansion of opportunities across the higher education sector. According to him, the commission has strengthened internal financial management, licensed new private universities, approved new programmes and supported the take-off of publicly funded universities. Ribadu added that open and distance learning centres have been expanded while quality assurance exercises continue nationwide. He confirmed that the 2025 Accreditation Exercise is currently ongoing across institutions.
“These priorities continue to form the foundation of the Commission’s direction, and I am seeking your support in advancing them,” Ribadu told board members. He assured them of full cooperation from NUC management, saying the commission stands ready to draw from their expertise. “We will rely on your wisdom to guide us as we carry out our duties. I am confident that your collective experience will strengthen the commission’s capacity to guide the Nigerian university system at a time when higher education continues to evolve,” he added.
The Executive Secretary also expressed hope that members will use their networks to attract projects and partnerships. “We also look forward to using your networks to help advance projects and partnerships that will benefit the Commission and the entire university system,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the 13th NUC Board, Emeritus Professor Oluremi Aina, thanked President Bola Tinubu for his continued support for the university sector. He noted that the board was taking charge at a time of transition, when global standards in higher education were rising and expectations from universities were increasing.
Aina outlined five central pillars that will guide the new board’s mandate, focusing on performance evaluation, improved university rankings, digital literacy, research and institutional reforms. He said, “As we settle into this assignment, but permit me to present what I call five pillars that I believe will help guide our stewardship. One, evaluation of NUC performance.” He explained that the commission must review the Act that established it, understand amendments, and study its mission, principles and ethics.
He added that the commission must assess its challenges and achievements while comparing its performance with global standards rather than relying on sentiment or history. The second pillar, he said, aligns with the renewed hope agenda of the administration, noting that the president has made education a key driver of national transformation. According to him, “Through our assignment, we must lead other key stakeholders in the higher education sector. In pragmatically resolving the naughty and nagging agitation of the academic staff union and other university unions.”
Aina stressed the importance of enhancing digital literacy and adopting artificial intelligence to reposition Nigerian universities locally and internationally. He added that boosting performance in global and webometric rankings will remain a priority for the board. He noted that the third pillar involves identifying and dismantling obstacles affecting university quality, adding that governance gaps, funding constraints and research stagnation must no longer be treated as normal.
The fourth pillar, he stated, focuses on reviewing existing funding streams and exploring new sources for sustainable financing. “Nigerian universities cannot thrive on ingenuity alone. The board must intensify the research for alternative funding sources. Strengthen utilisation and explore emerging and local opportunities,” he said. The fifth pillar centres on investing in staff welfare and enhancing regulatory systems, noting that no system can perform beyond its operators.
Aina also stated that the board intends to leverage technology for efficiency. “We will seek to leverage technology to ease our burden through the adoption of digital platforms for the advancement of our collective objectives. And I have a charge for the board. This board, in whom I am well-pleased, carries with it the weight of expectations and aspirations of the Nigerian people,” he said.
In July 2025, the Agence Française de Développement — the same French agency backing the recent loan tranche — formally launched a €38 million financing scheme for the National Universities Commission to support modernization of ICT infrastructure and digital capacity across 10 federal universities under the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project. The launch signalled France’s ongoing collaboration with NUC on technology-driven university reform, aligning with current funding efforts announced by Ribadu.
