Nigeria Initiates €38M Modernization of Digital University in Collaboration with France
Abuja, Nigeria - The National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Agence Francaise de Développement (AFD) are set to launch the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project on July 1st, 2025. This strategic digital transformation initiative aims to equip Nigerian public universities with advanced Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, platforms, and systems, paving the way for a holistic, digital-age education system.
The Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project is a critical component of the broader Blueprint for the Rapid Revitalisation of University Education in Nigeria, developed by the NUC in 2018. It aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasising human capital development, innovation, and educational reform.
The project will be inaugurated by eminent dignitaries, including the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, and Vice-Chancellors from the 10 participating federal universities. These institutions, selected through a competitive and merit-based process, will serve as pioneers in digital education innovation.
The Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project has several objectives. It aims to digitise university systems, including administration, teaching, and research infrastructures. This digitisation will enable universities to offer hybrid (online and physical) and cross-border academic programs, strengthen education data systems for evidence-based decisions, and promote flexible, ICT-enabled education that improves access and quality.
The project also prioritises teacher training and continuous professional development with 21st-century digital tools, embedding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and entrepreneurship into university curricula to foster skills-based learning. Leveraging the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), the project will provide high-speed internet and enable content sharing among universities, positioning selected institutions as Centres of Excellence in ICT integration, digital innovation, and education innovation.
Furthermore, the project seeks to strengthen research infrastructure and enhance global competition capacity for Nigerian universities. AFD's commitment to the project includes providing continued financial, technical, and strategic support to ensure long-term impact.
Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, a key proponent of the project, envisions technology as the nervous system of universities, aiming for digital transformation to become the standard across public and private institutions. Mr. Xavier Muron, Country Director of AFD, views digital transformation as a pillar for building future-ready, resilient societies, and the project enables selected Nigerian universities to develop ICT-driven solutions for academic and socio-economic goals.
The French Ambassador to Nigeria commended the foresight of the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, and the leadership of the selected universities, noting that the project represents not just an investment in infrastructure, but in people, systems, and institutional transformation.
The Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project addresses critical challenges in the Nigerian University System, such as insufficient infrastructure for teaching and research, inadequate ICT integration, weak research capacity, inadequate access to university education, and the need for more efficient governance and academic service delivery.
As the launch of the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project approaches, anticipation grows for a future where Nigerian public universities are equipped to thrive in the digital age, providing accessible, high-quality education that prepares students for the challenges of the 21st century.
The Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project, integral to the broader Blueprint for the Rapid Revitalisation of University Education, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on human capital development and educational reform. It seeks to digitize university systems, including education and self-development through technology, by equipping universities with advanced infrastructure for teaching, research, and administration. Moreover, the project prioritizes teacher training, embedding Technology, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and entrepreneurship into university curricula, aiming for ICT-driven solutions to address critical academic and socio-economic goals.
