The Federal Government has strengthened the Federal Higher Education Institutions Promotion Office in partnership with the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) as part of its efforts to diversify funding sources for universities and improve the quality of education.
The partnership was announced at the launch of the National University Advancement Program (NUAP) in Lagos, where the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the initiative aims to provide federal and state universities with the necessary capacity, expertise and global best practices to attract funding beyond government grants.
Professor Alausa said public funds alone can no longer meet the growing needs of higher education, noting that universities need to adopt a sustainable approach that mobilizes additional resources.
He said the program focuses on building effective advancement offices within the university, enabling the university to engage with alumni, garner support for philanthropy and sustainably manage endowments.
“As government funding for higher education continues to decline globally, universities must begin to explore additional ways to mobilize resources,” the minister said. “This program aims to build capacity, develop technical expertise, and guide institutions on how to adopt global standards in fundraising and endowment management.”
He explained that NUAP will provide universities with a practical toolkit and technical assistance, including guidance on setting up boards, investment teams, governance frameworks, and reporting structures to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of endowments.
The minister added that many universities have already set up advancement offices but have not yet been able to optimize their potential, stressing that the initiative aims to help universities quickly adopt effective funding models to supplement budget allocations from the government, TETFund and other sources.
Earlier, NHEF Chairman Wale Adeosun said sustainable university financing is essential to restoring Nigerian universities to global competitiveness.
Adeosun said the program aims to strengthen the institutional advancement structure within the university and enable it to mobilize private sector support, alumni donations and philanthropic funds to complement government resources.
He explained that NHEF was established more than 20 years ago through a partnership between major global foundations such as the MacArthur Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation and Packard Foundation to support higher education development in Africa with a primary focus on Nigeria.
“NHEF’s original goal was to help Nigerian universities become self-reliant,” Adeosun said, adding that the MacArthur Foundation initially selected four Nigerian universities to join the initiative before additional institutions such as the University of Nigeria and the University of Lagos were incorporated.
He said NHEF is currently working with a growing network of universities across the country, focusing on strengthening governance, faculty development, student success and institutional advancement.
Mr. Adeosun said the foundation’s activities are structured around three core pillars: improving university management and governance, strengthening faculty capacity through exchange programs with US universities, and supporting students through leadership and scholarship initiatives.
He also emphasized the importance of partnerships and thanked the Federal Ministry of Education, the University Vice-Chancellors, the Board of Governors and international partners for their continued support of the Foundation’s mission.
Mr Adeosun expressed optimism that the National University Advancement Program would help universities develop long-term funding strategies, build strong alumni relationships and attract sustainable funding for education, research and infrastructure development.
Also speaking at the event was African Finance Corporation (AFC) President and CEO Samaira Zubair, who said African Finance Corporation (AFC) stands ready to support the collection of donations and the development of data centers at universities.
Zubair said the proposed data center is aimed at supporting education, research and innovation, as well as preparing students and institutions for the growing influence of artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
“This idea is not a fundraiser for itself, but a fundraiser to provide essential infrastructure for the future of education,” he said.
He added that the AFC is aligned with the Federal Government’s move to develop Nigeria’s 10 universities by supporting comprehensive fundraising efforts focused on alumni giving and long-term endowment structures.
According to Zubairu, “The initiative will begin with two pilot universities, with a focus on mobilizing financial resources and having graduates contribute directly to the development of their respective universities.”
“We want to create a program that actively engages alumni and encourages them to give back through university-targeted giving.”
