The Federal Government has unveiled a new strategy aimed at reducing Nigerian universities’ dependence on government funding by strengthening alumni engagement, fundraising and institutional partnerships to drive long-term sustainability.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the National University Advancement Programme (NUAP) training for university officials, where he reaffirmed the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu administration to building financially resilient and globally competitive universities.
Alausa notes that the initiative was designed to complement existing government investments in higher education by creating additional funding streams for research, scholarships, infrastructure development and innovation.
He said: “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 explained that the programme was established through a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) to institutionalise professionally managed Advancement Offices across federal universities and inter-university centres.
According to him, the offices would coordinate alumni engagement, donor relations, endowment management, strategic communications and resource mobilisation, while helping institutions strengthen their financial base and improve their global visibility.
Alausa described alumni as one of the greatest untapped assets available to Nigerian universities, noting that many graduates have distinguished themselves in business, science, medicine, technology, entrepreneurship and public service across the world.
“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 added that the Federal Government’s vision was s to build universities that are financially stronger, capable of long-term planning, driven by robust research ecosystems and globally competitive while remaining responsive to Nigeria’s development needs.
The minister said participants in the training programme were equipped with practical knowledge and global best practices in alumni relations, fundraising, donor stewardship and sustainable university development.
He urged university administrators and advancement officers to return to their institutions and implement reforms that promote accountability, strengthen institutional trust and improve governance and the overall student experience.
Alausa further assured stakeholders that the Federal Government’s education reform agenda under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would continue to focus on strengthening institutions, expanding access to quality education and positioning the sector as a driver of national development.
Also speaking, 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 sustained investment in people, institutions and partnerships.
She said the University Advancement Programme, launched following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal Ministry of Education in January this year, would equip universities with the systems and strategies required to improve alumni engagement, fundraising, communications and long-term institutional advancement.
The National University Advancement Programme brought together vice-chancellors, university administrators, advancement officers and senior officials from federal universities and inter-university centres for intensive training on global best practices in institutional advancement, donor stewardship and sustainable university development.
