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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has charged the managers of the various tertiary institutions in Nigeria and their supervisory bodies to take actions and steps that will attract more foreign students to the institutions.
The government stressed the need to internationalise Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, thus making it a place for producing global citizens, and not people who are restricted in experience and thoughts.
Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa gave the charge in Abuja on Monday, at the launch of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Alliance and the compendium which contains key achievements and impacts of the ACE projects in Nigeria over the years.
He said: “One of the most remarkable achievements of the ACE project was its contribution to the internationalisation of education in Nigeria. The Nigerian ACEs have attracted students and faculty from across Africa, thus fostering cross-border knowledge exchange and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for excellence.
“This further aligns with our broader agenda to integrate Nigeria into global education data systems, ensuring that our institutions are recognised and ranked among the best worldwide.
“The ACE Projects positioned Nigeria not only as a consumer but also as a provider of high-quality transnational education, and through the ACE Alliance, our centres can continue to forge stronger partnerships with leading institutions worldwide, promoting joint degrees, faculty exchanges, and collaborative research that benefit students and faculty alike.
“To remain competitive, however, we must continue to benchmark our systems against global standards, leveraging robust data to guide policy, planning, and performance improvement. In line with this vision, the NUC has taken deliberate steps to strengthen Nigeria’s visibility in the global higher education space.
“The Commission has developed comprehensive guidelines for the delivery of transnational education and identified six models most suitable for adoption in Nigeria. These models provide a structured pathway for joint degree programmes, institutional partnerships, branch campuses, distance learning, and other collaborative frameworks that expand opportunities for students and faculty while maintaining quality and credibility.
“By putting these mechanisms in place, the NUC is laying a solid foundation for Nigerian universities to attract reputable international partners and deliver qualifications that are globally recognised. This will not only widen access and enrich academic experiences but also strengthen our national capacity to produce graduates and research outputs that meet global standards.
“With transnational education, Nigeria can position itself as both a destination and a partner of choice in higher education, advancing our competitiveness in a rapidly evolving knowledge economy. NUC must fast-track these engagements so that Nigeria can seize emerging opportunities and establish itself as a key player in transnational education.”
Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, in his welcome address, described the ACE project as one of the most transformative initiatives in the history of higher education in sub-Saharan Africa.
He explained that the ACE Project was conceived by the World Bank in partnership with participating governments, the Association of African Universities (AAU) and co-funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in the ACE Impact phase.
“The objective is to address a long-standing question which was, can African universities truly serve as engines of innovation, human capital development, and regional integration?
“In Nigeria, the answer has been a resounding ‘yes’.
“Over the past decade, the ACE Project has empowered 17 Nigerian universities hosting 20 Centres of Excellence to deliver high-quality postgraduate training, cutting-edge research, and solution-oriented partnerships in areas that matter most not only to national but also regional development, such as health, agriculture, education, engineering, ICT, and the environment.
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“From the first phase (ACE I) to the recently concluded ACE Impact cycle, our universities have not only built and equipped modern laboratories and conducted world-class research, but have also produced thousands of master’s and doctoral graduates many of whom are now advancing research, policy, and enterprise across Africa.
“Our Centres have proven that with the right support, Nigerian universities can be globally competitive and are capable of producing innovations that respond to local challenges while contributing to global knowledge.
“The achievements we celebrate today are not abstract statistics, they are stories of discovery, resilience, and transformation.
“Through the ACEs, Nigeria has attracted regional students and faculty from across Africa, promoting integration and cross-border collaboration. We have achieved international accreditation for academic programmes offered by the ACEs, thereby aligning them with global benchmarks.
“The Centres succeeded in strengthening linkages between research and industry, resulting in patents, policy innovations, and market-ready solutions, and they secured millions of dollars in competitive research grants from both public and private sources,” he stated.
Dr Joshua Atah, National Coordinator, ACE Project, in his address said the ACE Alliance represents a bold step toward sustainability. “It is a collaborative platform designed to consolidate the gains of the past decade, deepen partnerships, and create new pathways for innovation, resource mobilisation, and knowledge exchange among Centres of Excellence across Nigeria and the African continent.
“Through this Alliance, the Centres will not only continue their research and capacity-building missions but will also work together more strategically to influence policy, attract investment, and deliver impact on a larger scale.”
He confirmed that Nigeria’s ACEs have delivered results that speak to the power of strategic investment and collaboration, while evolving into engines of innovation and excellence.
“Collectively, these Centres have attracted over $145 million through performance-based disbursements and mobilised additional funding exceeding N3.9 billion, $46 million, €1.78 million, and £2.6 million from diverse sources (these funds have been reinvested into research, infrastructure, and capacity building).
“Across the Centres, more than 45,000 students have been enrolled in degree and short-term professional programmes, including participants from over 15 African countries, thereby strengthening regional cooperation and academic mobility and positioning Nigerian universities as continental leaders in postgraduate education.
“To date, the Centres have produced over 6,600 graduates, including 1,596 PhDs, many of whom are now leading researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. Faculty and students of the ACEs have published more than 4,200 peer-reviewed scientific papers in reputable journals, advancing global knowledge in critical fields.
“Their work has been supported by over 625 partnerships with national and international industries, research organisations, and institutions, fostering a culture of collaboration that bridges academia and enterprise.
“Beyond the numbers, the impact of these Centres is deeply human and profoundly societal.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, two Nigerian Centres were designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as testing laboratories, a testament to the credibility and relevance of their research infrastructure.
“Others have also pioneered innovations in renewable energy, reproductive health, food safety, and digital learning, positioning Nigerian ACEs as a continental benchmark for excellence-driven, solution-oriented higher education.”
