Damiete Breide
The Federal Government has called on Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities to embrace the National University Advancement Program (NUAP) as a long-term institutional vision and take strong responsibility for its implementation, describing the initiative as a decisive path to sustainability, global competitiveness and future relevance of Nigeria’s higher education system.
The call was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Marufu Tunji Alausa, as the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the African Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF), formally launched the program.
The high-level event, themed ‘Leveraging the University’s Single Greatest Asset: Alumni’, was held at the Federal Palace Hotel & Casino, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, and brought together vice-chancellors, advancement professionals, policy makers, development partners and corporate leaders from across the country.
Addressing the participants, the Minister explained that this initiative is more than just a ceremonial inauguration, stressing that it must be seen as the beginning of a journey of national transformation in how Nigerian universities are funded, operated and maintained.
“This initiative should not be seen as a one-off event, but as the beginning of a common national journey,” Alausa said. “The success of this roadmap ultimately depends on the leadership of the Vice Chancellor and the Board of Governors on how they embed the principles of advancement into their organizational culture, how they re-engage alumni as lifelong partners, and how they manage resources with transparency and integrity.”
He noted that the decisions taken today could redefine the future of higher education in Nigeria, and urged university leaders to approach the program with a long-term vision and a deep sense of responsibility.
“I therefore encourage all vice-chancellors present to approach today’s deliberations with a long-term vision and a strong sense of ownership. The decisions made here can redefine the future of higher education in Nigeria and build universities that are financially resilient, globally competitive and fully responsive to the aspirations of our youth,” he said.
Dr. Alausa explained that Nigerian universities are under pressure from limited public funding, expanding student numbers, aging infrastructure and increasing demands for research, innovation and global competitiveness. He said these realities call for a shift away from an overreliance on government funding to a more sustainable funding model based on alumni support, philanthropy, donations, private capital and a transparent promotion system.
He said the partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Nigerian Higher Education Foundation was timely and strategic, adding that it lays the foundation for a nationally coordinated university access framework that will serve all federal universities, regardless of size, age or location.
The Minister outlined clear objectives for the program, including institutionalizing professionally run Advancement Offices across federal universities, building leadership and technical capacity in alumni relations, fundraising, endowment management and endowment management, and establishing a durable financial structure that can sustainably support scholarships, research excellence, innovation and infrastructure development.
He said the initiative was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “New Hope” agenda, which emphasizes institutional reform, sustainability and partnership-led development.
In his opening remarks in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation, Wale Adeosun CFA, said the establishment was a defining moment in Nigeria’s collective efforts to strengthen the country’s higher education system through collaboration, innovation and purposeful leadership.
“This initiative reflects the nation’s shared determination to strengthen the sustainability, global competitiveness and development impact of Nigerian universities,” Adeosun said. “We aim to position the university as a powerhouse of innovation and national progress through strategic advancement practices across partnerships, alumni relations, institutional development, and resource mobilization.”
He thanked the Federal Ministry of Education, Vice-Chancellors, advancement experts and partners, noting that their collective insights will shape actionable outcomes and transform vision into tangible organizational growth.
Also speaking at the event, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Finance Corporation, Samaira Zubairu, said NUAP is an important step towards strengthening alumni engagement and long-term institutional support in Nigeria’s higher education system.
Zubair pointed out that universities that maintain global excellence do so through well-developed advancement ecosystems that leverage alumni networks, philanthropy and strategic partnerships.
“These approaches will help expand scholarships, support research and enable continued investment in academic infrastructure and talent,” he said. “NUAP provides a coordinated national platform to embed these practices in a systematic and sustainable way, enabling alumni, businesses and partners to make a clear and impactful contribution. This is not philanthropy, it is nation-building.”
He added that the African Finance Corporation is proud to support this initiative as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s future foundations.
Presentation participants described the program as a major structural change in the way the university engages with its alumni and partners, moving from informal engagement to a professionally managed promotion system that can mobilize long-term resources for development.
Education stakeholders believe that NUAP has the potential to redefine the financial structure of Nigerian universities by going beyond government grants and creating sustainable funding streams to support education, research, innovation and infrastructure.
As the national rollout of this program begins, the Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to providing policy support, coordination and leadership to ensure successful implementation across federal universities.
“Through purposeful collaboration and shared responsibility, we can secure a stronger and more sustainable future for Nigerian universities and our country,” the Minister said.
The launch of the National University Advancement Program marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s higher education reform, placing alumni, partnerships and institutional progress at the heart of building resilient, globally competitive universities that can drive the nation’s development for generations to come.
