The Federal Government says it is seeking $150 million in funding support from the World Bank to implement the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Innovate Project, the next phase of the ongoing research and innovation programme in Nigerian universities.
Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, disclosed this in Abuja during the launch of the ACE Alliance and the presentation of a four-volume compendium highlighting achievements recorded under the ACE initiative. He said the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, has written to the Federal Ministry of Finance to initiate the funding request to the World Bank.
Ribadu stated that the proposed funding is intended to consolidate the gains of the ACE Project, which has, over the past decade, supported research, postgraduate training and innovation in 17 universities hosting 20 Centres of Excellence across the country. The Centres have focused on health, agriculture, ICT, engineering, and other national priority areas.
He added that the Innovate Project would deepen collaboration with development partners, including the African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, as part of efforts to sustain the progress recorded. Ribadu also inaugurated an interim steering committee to drive coordination under the newly established ACE Alliance.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Alausa, said the ACE Project, funded by the World Bank and co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), has strengthened Nigeria’s position in African higher education. He said the initiative supports the Federal Government’s plan to revitalise university education and improve global competitiveness.
Alausas noted that the compendium documents more than 2,000 peer-reviewed publications, a directory of scholars and research facilities, and innovations developed under the programme. He said the next phase would support stronger international partnerships, joint academic programmes and cross-border research collaboration.
National Coordinator of the ACE Project, Dr. Joshua Atah, said Nigerian Centres have attracted over $145 million in performance-based funding and additional resources from international and local partners. According to him, the Centres have also trained over 45,000 students, including 1,596 PhD graduates, and published more than 4,200 academic papers.
He said the launch of the ACE Alliance marks a new phase to consolidate achievements, expand sustainability, and strengthen the contribution of universities to national development.
