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NUC, TETFund back initiative
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By Gabriel Dike
The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, and the University of Birmingham, UK, on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase access to university education and deepen collaboration in research.
The signing ceremony took place at the Senate Building of UNILAG and was supervised by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, to stamp the Federal Government’s approval of the collaboration.
Alausa noted that the MoU signifies a bold and audacious step towards transforming Nigeria’s education landscape, catapulting the country into a hub of academic excellence, innovation and intellectual curiosity.
He recalled that the Federal Government approved the Transnational Education (TNE) policy, outlining guidelines for cross-border implementation.
“This policy aims to boost access to tertiary education, ease placement pressures, and foster global exchange of ideas and research. It is designed to attract foreign investment and funding to the government and institutions, driving growth and development in the Nigerian education sector.
“This collaboration has the potential to increase access to quality education and provide access to international, top-tier academic programmes and prestigious degrees, enhance curriculum and pedagogy, improve employability and skill acquisition, as well as foster exchange and global networking,” Alausa stated.
The education minister urged stakeholders to seize this opportunity to shape the future of Nigerian education.
In his address, British Deputy High Commissioner, John Baxter, acknowledged the role of Nigerian government agencies and UK partners in enabling TNE frameworks.
He added: “We are all aware that Nigeria’s higher education sector faces significant capacity challenges, with over 1.3 million qualified students unable to secure admission annually.”
Baxter described the partnership as a practical solution to bring world-class UK education to Nigeria and expand access to high-quality degrees locally.
UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, said the ceremony marks a historic milestone in Nigeria–UK academic collaboration with the signing of an MoU to develop a framework for the University of Lagos–University of Birmingham Transnational Education (TNE) collaboration.
According to the VC, the partnership has been nurtured for over ten years through mutually beneficial research and academic programmes in global surgery.
“This new partnership offers a refreshing, accessible structure for students seeking to advance knowledge across diverse national and global contexts and strengthens our commitment to producing graduates who are globally competent yet deeply attuned to the needs of our society,” she argued.
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Ogunsola said the signing of an MoU with the University of Birmingham represents a major step towards globalising Nigeria’s higher education.
The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sunny Echono, observed that the partnership reflects the shared commitment to advancing research collaboration, postgraduate training and global academic engagement.
His words: “The Transnational Education Programme provides a structured framework for collaboration in areas such as joint postgraduate degrees, co-supervised research, shared curricula and collaborative research projects. These initiatives are essential for building advanced skills, improving the quality of supervision, and ensuring that our postgraduate programmes remain globally competitive while addressing national development priorities.”
He noted that the University of Birmingham is internationally renowned for its research excellence and strong postgraduate training, while the University of Lagos remains one of Nigeria’s leading universities with a proven record of academic excellence and innovation.
“This collaboration therefore brings together complementary strengths that will support high-quality joint programmes and impactful research outcomes.
“TETFund expects this MoU to translate into active programmes, measurable research outputs, effective quality assurance and sustainable institutional collaboration.”
In his address, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Abdullahi Ribadu, said the partnership marks the formalisation of a new alliance focused on joint research initiatives, staff and student exchange programmes, and collaborative academic ventures.
Ribadu stated that the partnership will open up opportunities for both universities to contribute to knowledge exchange and enhance their academic reputation.
“The NUC has long been at the forefront of promoting Transnational Education in Nigeria, recognising its role in widening access to university education. In 2023, the Commission issued guidelines to regulate partnerships with international institutions.”
The NUC boss commended the leadership of both universities for initiating the collaboration. “We look forward to its successful implementation and reaffirm the NUC’s commitment to supporting similar partnerships that advance quality education in Nigeria.”
The Provost of the University of Birmingham, Prof Nick William, lauded the education minister for promoting cooperation between Nigeria and the UK in the area of education.
Prof William described UNILAG as one of the best institutions in Africa, which is the reason Birmingham University chose it for the partnership.
William revealed that universities have the responsibility not only to educate people but to promote knowledge. He said the MoU will yield results for the students and UNILAG.
