FG unveils plan to boost university funding, global competitiveness

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to making Nigerian universities financially sustainable and globally competitive through the National University Advancement Programme, a new initiative aimed at strengthening alumni engagement, strategic partnerships and institutional fundraising.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known in a keynote address delivered at the closing ceremony of the National University Advancement Programme training for university officials.

The position was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.

Alausa described the programme as a strategic intervention designed to complement government funding by helping universities mobilise additional resources through alumni networks, donor partnerships, endowments and institutional collaborations.

“The National University Advancement Programme is not intended to replace government support for higher education. Rather, it complements existing investments by creating additional pathways for sustainability, innovation, research support, scholarships and long-term institutional growth,” the minister said.

He explained that the initiative reflected the Federal Government’s determination to build universities capable of competing globally while remaining responsive to Nigeria’s development priorities.

According to him, universities must strengthen their internal systems, cultivate strategic partnerships and deliberately engage their alumni to unlock new opportunities for research, innovation, scholarships, infrastructure development and sustainable institutional growth.

Alausa disclosed that the National University Advancement Programme was established through a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation and the Africa Finance Corporation to institutionalise professionally managed Advancement Offices across federal universities and inter-university centres.

He said the offices would serve as hubs for alumni engagement, donor relations, endowment management, strategic communications, resource mobilisation and institutional partnerships, thereby improving universities’ financial resilience and expanding research opportunities.

“Nigerian universities possess one of their greatest untapped assets in their alumni, many of whom continue to distinguish themselves across business, science, medicine, technology, entrepreneurship and public service, both within Nigeria and around the world,” he said.

The minister added, “When universities maintain strong relationships with their alumni, research receives greater support, students gain access to scholarships and mentorship opportunities, institutions build stronger partnerships, infrastructure improves and innovation expands.”

He noted that the Federal Government’s vision was to build universities that are financially stronger, capable of long-term planning, driven by robust research ecosystems and globally competitive.

Alausa said participants in the training were equipped with practical knowledge on alumni engagement, fundraising, donor stewardship and sustainable university development, urging them to return to their institutions and implement reforms that promote accountability, strengthen governance and improve students’ learning experience.

He also reaffirmed that the education reform agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained focused on strengthening institutions, expanding access to quality education and positioning education as a catalyst for national development.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Technical Working Committee of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation, Claire Jemide, described the foundation as a strategic partner committed to strengthening Nigeria’s higher education ecosystem through investments in people, institutions and collaborative partnerships.

She said the University Advancement Programme, launched following the Memorandum of Agreement signed with the Federal Ministry of Education in January 2026, would equip universities with the knowledge, systems and strategies needed to strengthen alumni engagement, fundraising, communications and long-term institutional advancement.

The training brought together vice-chancellors, university administrators, advancement officers and senior officials from federal universities and inter-university centres across the country to learn global best practices in institutional advancement, donor stewardship, alumni relations and sustainable university development.

The National University Advancement Programme is one of the Federal Ministry of Education’s latest higher education reform initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The programme seeks to reduce Nigerian universities’ dependence on government allocations by establishing institutional advancement offices that can attract philanthropic donations, strengthen alumni participation, secure research funding and build strategic partnerships, in line with international best practices adopted by leading universities worldwide.