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The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched a $40 million Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiative targeted at modernizing and digitizing the country’s tertiary education system.
The ambitious programme, known as the Blueprint ICT Development Project (Blueprint-ICT-Dev), is funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and will be executed across 10 federal universities strategically located across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Unveiling the initiative at a high-level event in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the project as a transformative investment in Nigeria’s educational future. He emphasised that it embodies a renewed national commitment to advancing human capital development, fostering digital inclusion, and promoting sustainable educational reforms.
“This project is not just about infrastructure—it is about building smart campuses, empowering smart people, and nurturing smart ideas,” Dr. Alausa stated.
He added that the initiative aligns directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, representing a model of innovation, digital empowerment, and international cooperation. According to the minister, the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project will enable universities to digitise administrative processes, integrate hybrid and cross-border academic programmes, and strengthen international academic linkages.
Alausa further noted that the project will support the establishment of digital libraries, modernise research management systems, and integrate all participating institutions into the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN). Additionally, it will promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) within university curricula to ensure students are equipped with industry-relevant, skills-based learning.
In his remarks, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), praised the project as a pivotal step toward the full digital transformation of the Nigerian University System (NUS).
Ribadu disclosed that the project stems from the NUC’s 2018 revitalisation blueprint, which identified ICT as a critical lever for addressing challenges in governance, funding, quality assurance, and graduate employability.
“Success will be measured not just by the infrastructure provided but by the lives we are able to transform. This is a call to action,” Ribadu said.
He also stressed that the project aims to extend the reach of Nigerian universities to underserved communities through initiatives like Open and Distance Learning (ODL), teacher training, digital literacy campaigns, and improved data systems.
Universities, including those not selected for the pilot phase, were urged to begin automating vital operations such as student and staff data management, academic recordkeeping, and governance frameworks, in readiness for full-scale ICT adoption.
Adding further details, Dr. Joshua Atah, the Coordinator of Special Projects at the NUC, described the initiative as a “landmark investment” and a catalyst for educational innovation. He broke down the project into two components:
Component One, with an allocation of $38 million, will focus on upgrading digital infrastructure in the 10 participating universities. This includes enhancing internet connectivity, providing digital learning tools, and training academic staff in modern pedagogical techniques.
Component Two allocates $2 million for the development of a National STEM Transformation Strategy. This component will include setting up a national committee, conducting labour market research, launching public awareness campaigns, and piloting projects to raise the quality of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
The launch event was graced by several dignitaries, including the French Ambassador to Nigeria, the Country Director of AFD, and senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the NUC.
The 10 federal universities selected for the first phase of implementation are: University of Calabar, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Maiduguri, Bayero University, Kano, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, University of Jos.
With this initiative, Nigeria’s higher education sector takes a significant leap forward in embracing technology-driven learning environments, setting the stage for academic excellence, global competitiveness, and inclusive growth.