The National Universities Commission (NUC) has called on Nigerian universities to prioritize sustainability and look beyond donor support as the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) project approaches its funding conclusion on June 30.
Speaking at the pre-closure retreat for the ACE Impact Project in Abuja on Wednesday, NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, praised the initiative for transforming Nigeria's academic institutions into globally competitive knowledge hubs but emphasized the need for strategic planning moving forward.
"This project has empowered our universities and contributed significantly to regional integration and internationalisation," Ribadu stated. "ACE Centres have produced high-quality master's and PhD graduates, secured international accreditations, attracted major external funding, and driven innovation across key sectors such as health, agriculture, STEM, and education."
From Projects to Permanent Assets
Ribadu urged beneficiary institutions to transition these centres from temporary project status into "permanent institutional assets." He called on vice-chancellors and centre leaders to develop robust sustainability strategies, secure diverse funding sources, and establish governance frameworks that would attract both public and private investment.
"This is not the end, but the beginning of a new phase of responsibility. We must scale up the gains of the past decade and ensure these Centres remain engines of growth and regional leadership," he emphasized.
Significant Achievements
The ACE project, which spans 17 centres housed within 14 Nigerian universities, has made remarkable progress in research output, postgraduate training, and regional academic integration, according to National Coordinator Joshua Attah.
"These projects are not going away, what's ending is the funding, but the infrastructure, the capacity, and the benefits to students and researchers remain firmly in place," Attah explained.
He highlighted that the centres have been instrumental in training master's and PhD students, including a growing number of foreign scholars, marking a revival in Nigeria's regional academic leadership.
The ACE impact has expanded to include 53 centres across 11 countries, with Nigeria hosting the highest number at 17 Centres of Excellence, cementing the country's position as a leader in the initiative.
As the funding phase concludes, the focus now shifts to ensuring these academic centres continue to drive innovation and excellence in Nigeria's higher education landscape through sustainable models and strategic partnerships.
