In a major push to modernise Nigeria’s public Universities through digital innovation, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has launched the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project in Abuja.
The initiative, backed by a €38 million financing from the French Government through the AFD, aims to strengthen digital infrastructure and ICT capacity across selected Nigerian federal universities.
The formal launch, which was hosted by the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, brought together eminent dignitaries, including the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Marc Fonbaustier, the Country Director of AFD, Mr. Xavier Muron, Vice-Chancellors, and Project Team Leads from the 10 participating federal universities.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa described the project as not just a technological upgrade, but a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian education.
“It is about building smart campuses, empowering smart people, and nurturing smart ideas. It is about restoring hope, in line with the vision of Mr. President, to a sector that holds the key to national renewal,” the Minister added.
In his remarks, the French Ambassador to Nigeria described the launch of the Blueprint Project as “a decisive leap forward in Nigeria’s pursuit of inclusive, innovative, and future-ready education.” He 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.
Echoing this sentiment, the AFD Country Director highlighted the strategic alignment of the Blueprint with AFD’s commitment to strengthening higher education, fostering digital and entrepreneurial skills, and driving governance reform.
He said “this project is more than a milestone, it is a reflection of our shared vision to develop ICT-driven solutions that serve both academic and socio-economic goals,”. He further emphasised the participatory and locally grounded design of the initiative, reaffirming AFD’s commitment to providing continued financial, technical, and strategic support to ensure long-term impact.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, stated that the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project aligns with the broader national digital economy agenda and supports the strategic goals of revitalising our university system through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable capacity development. He reaffirmed that this first phase is only the beginning and called on other development partners to join in expanding the reach and impact of the Project beyond the 10 initial institutions.
He said: “With a €38 million financing provided by the French Development Agency (AFD), this first phase of the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project focuses specifically on strengthening digital infrastructure and ICT capabilities in 10 federal universities, selected through a competitive and merit-based process. The support will enable participating institutions to upgrade their digital infrastructure, automate administrative processes, enhance e-learning platforms, and build capacity for staff and faculty in digital skills.
“The Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project signals a new chapter in university reform in Nigeria, anchored on digital innovation, strategic partnerships, and a clear commitment to quality and relevance in higher education. As implementation begins, the project is expected to lay the groundwork for a more digitally agile, globally competitive, and innovation-driven university system in Nigeria.”
Representing the Minister of Finance, Adebayo Olawale Edun, Assistant Director (SS) IER Department of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Umar Ibrahim El-Turaj remarked that the Federal Ministry of Finance, in its role as a key partner in mobilising resources for national development, is proud to support this groundbreaking endeavour. “We recognise that investment in digital education and infrastructure is an investment in the future prosperity and competitiveness of Nigeria,” he said.
The Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project is a flagship initiative and a critical component of the broader Blueprint for the Rapid Revitalisation of University Education in Nigeria, developed by the NUC in 2018 as a strategic response to critical challenges in the Nigerian University System (NUS). These challenges include 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.
A special moment at the launch was the presentation of award letters to the selected universities.
