The French Government, through its development agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has approved a $40 million grant for the implementation of the Blueprint ICT Development (ICT-Dev) Project across selected Nigerian universities.
The announcement was made by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdulahi Yusufu Ribadu, during a courtesy visit by the AFD Country Director, Mr Xavier Muron, to the NUC headquarters in Abuja. The visit was aimed at finalising modalities for the official launch and implementation of the ICT-Dev Project within the Nigerian University System (NUS).
Professor Ribadu described AFD as a crucial development partner, noting that the new initiative builds on the achievements of the African Centres of Excellence (ACE) programme, which was co-funded by the World Bank and AFD. According to him, the ACE initiative, which officially ends in June 2025, has significantly transformed higher education in Nigeria by enhancing research capabilities, attracting over 924 international students, and generating over N3.2 billion in revenue for participating institutions.
The NUC Executive Secretary stressed the need for sustainability, urging universities that benefitted from ACE to form alliances and continue collaborative efforts beyond the expiration of donor funding. “We want the ACE programme to transition into a sustainable alliance under the ACE-Alliance umbrella,” Ribadu said. “These centres must evolve from temporary projects into permanent institutional assets.”
He explained that the $40 million funding from AFD for ICT infrastructure revitalisation and capacity building in 10 selected universities is a step in the right direction. The launch of the project is expected to take place in the second week of July, with participation from the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the French Ambassador.
Mr Xavier Muron, while reaffirming AFD’s long-standing partnership with the NUC, said the agency is fully committed to supporting the implementation of the ICT-Dev Project. He stressed the importance of a timely launch, especially as the ACE-Impact programme nears its official close.
Muron also revealed that AFD plans to earmark additional funding for the upcoming Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme within the university system. He called for effective coordination between the ICT-Dev and iDICE initiatives to avoid duplication of efforts.
Beyond higher education, Mr Muron noted that AFD is also involved in other educational interventions, including vocational training in agriculture and a housing partnership with the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) under the Family Home Fund scheme aimed at providing affordable accommodation for students. The housing project, he said, is still under review at the Federal Ministry of Finance.
He concluded by calling for increased commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that both the ICT-Dev and iDICE projects deliver sustainable outcomes.
The AFD delegation included Project Manager for Education, Ms Dashen Plangnam, while the NUC team comprised Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), Mr Chris J. Maiyaki; Acting Director of Research, Innovations and Information Technology, Malam Lawal M. Farouk; Director of Accreditation, Engr. Abraham Chindusu; Director of Open, Distance and e-Learning, Mrs Fumilayo Morebishe; and Director of the Executive Secretary’s Office, Mr Jubril Momoh.
