The Federal Government has urged Nigerian universities to strengthen alumni engagement, expand strategic partnerships and adopt sustainable funding models to build globally competitive institutions.
The call was made by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, at the closing ceremony of the National University Advancement Programme (NUAP) training for university officials.
The minister was represented by his Special Adviser on STEMM Education and Corporate Sector Engagement, Dr. Adetola Ariyike Salau.
Speaking at the event, Alausa described the training as more than the conclusion of a capacity-building exercise, saying it marked a renewed national commitment to building stronger, more resilient and globally competitive universities.
He commended university leaders and officials who participated in the programme, noting that their dedication reflected a shared determination to reposition Nigeria’s higher education system for long-term sustainability.
The minister also lauded the partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation and the Africa Finance Corporation, describing the collaboration as a model for driving meaningful reforms in the education sector.
According to him, while the government remains committed to funding higher education, universities must begin to explore additional sources of support to achieve lasting excellence.
He clarified that the National University Advancement Programme was not designed to replace government funding but to complement existing investments by promoting innovation, research, scholarships and institutional growth through stronger partnerships and resource mobilisation.
Alausa explained that NUAP was established as a strategic initiative to strengthen institutional advancement systems across federal universities and inter-university centres while equipping university management teams with the skills required for long-term development.
He identified alumni as one of the greatest untapped assets of Nigerian universities, stressing that graduates who have excelled in business, science, medicine, technology, entrepreneurship and public service should remain active partners in the growth of their alma maters.
“When universities maintain strong relationships with their alumni, research receives greater support, students gain access to scholarships and mentorship, infrastructure improves and innovation expands,” he said.
The minister said the Federal Government was therefore promoting the establishment of professionally managed Advancement Offices across federal universities to strengthen alumni relations, donor engagement, endowment management and institutional visibility.
He noted that the offices should serve as centres for strategic partnerships, fundraising, accountability and long-term institutional development rather than mere administrative units.
Alausa added that the ultimate goal was to build financially resilient universities with stronger research ecosystems, improved planning capacity and greater global competitiveness while remaining responsive to national development priorities.
He urged participants to return to their institutions and translate the knowledge gained during the training into practical reforms by building enduring systems, promoting accountability and working closely with university leadership.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to education reforms under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister said the administration remained focused on strengthening institutions, expanding access to quality education and positioning the sector as a catalyst for national development.
He also called on university administrators to provide bold leadership, challenged advancement teams to remain innovative and intentional, and appealed to alumni at home and abroad to invest in the future of the institutions that shaped their academic journeys.
Alausa expressed confidence that with sustained commitment, innovation and collaboration, Nigerian universities could emerge as centres of excellence capable of producing globally relevant graduates and advancing research, innovation and national development.
Also speaking, Wale Adeosun, chairman of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) and founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Kuramo Capital Management, urged Nigerian universities to prioritise alumni engagement and institutional advancement as sustainable sources of revenue.
Adeosun said the broader objective is to help universities become financially self-sustaining through diversified revenue streams.
He stressed that establishing university endowment funds through alumni contributions would provide institutions with the financial flexibility to invest in critical areas such as infrastructure, scholarships, research and teaching facilities.
Furthermore, Chairman of the Technical Working Committee of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation, Claire Jemide, described NHEF as a strategic partner committed to strengthening Nigeria’s higher education ecosystem through sustained investment in people, institutions and collaborative partnerships.
She explained that the Foundation’s work has evolved from supporting exceptional students through the NHEF Scholars Programme to strengthening faculty development, healthcare leadership, university governance and institutional transformation. According to her, the University Advancement Programme, launched following the Memorandum of Agreement signed with the Federal Ministry of Education in January 2026, represents another significant milestone in equipping Nigerian universities with the knowledge, systems and strategies required to strengthen 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 across the country for intensive training on global best practices in institutional advancement, donor stewardship, alumni relations and sustainable university development.