The Federal Government has officially launched a $40 million ICT development initiative aimed at transforming digital infrastructure across 10 selected federal universities in Nigeria. The project, known as the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project, is funded through a $40 million credit facility provided by the French Government via the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The initiative is designed to modernize ICT systems in universities, support hybrid and cross-border learning, enhance data-driven education policies, promote vocational and technical training through digital tools, and expand digital access in underserved communities.
Speaking at the launch event held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) headquarters in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, described the project as a strategic investment into the future of Nigeria’s education system, stating that it goes beyond basic technological upgrades. According to him, the intervention is focused on building smart campuses, embedding digital infrastructure, and driving hybrid learning and research development across the selected institutions. He emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the digital gap in Nigerian higher education, where many institutions were unable to transition to online learning, resulting in prolonged academic disruptions. He noted that this initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes innovation, human capital development, digital transformation, and inclusive growth through education reform.
Also present at the event were key stakeholders including the French Ambassador to Nigeria, officials from the French AFD, Vice-Chancellors of the beneficiary universities, and development partners. Dr. Joshua Attah, NUC Coordinator of Special Projects, explained that the project is structured into two main components: the first, with a $38 million allocation, will focus on enhancing ICT infrastructure in the selected universities to boost the quality of teaching and learning, while the second component, with a $2 million allocation, is dedicated to formulating a National STEM Transformation Strategy for Nigerian universities. He revealed that the project’s conception dates back to 2018, when the NUC drafted a revitalization blueprint for Nigeria’s university system, identifying ICT as central to meaningful reform.
Ten universities were selected from among the 26 federal universities established before 2011 through a competitive process involving proposal reviews and on-site assessments. The chosen institutions are the University of Calabar in the South-South, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka in the South-East, University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife in the South-West, Federal University of Technology Minna and University of Jos in the North-Central, University of Maiduguri and Modibbo Adama University Yola in the North-East, and Bayero University Kano in the North-West. These universities, according to the Education Minister, are expected to serve as Centres of Excellence in ICT integration and innovation in education, particularly in areas such as teacher training, online learning, digital skills, and research management.
The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, expressed optimism about the project’s impact and disclosed that efforts are already underway to secure additional funding to extend the programme to more universities. He urged all Nigerian universities, whether included in the first phase or not, to begin the automation of institutional operations, including staff and student data systems, academic result processing, transcript issuance, and digital governance structures. He further encouraged Vice-Chancellors to view the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) as more than a broadband infrastructure but as a foundational digital ecosystem essential to academic progress in the country.
French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, described the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project as a major step forward in Nigeria’s quest for an inclusive, modern, and innovation-driven education system. He reaffirmed the French Government’s support for Nigeria’s education sector, emphasizing that the project represents an investment not only in infrastructure but also in human capital and institutional transformation. AFD Country Director, Xavier Muron, also lauded the partnership, stating that the project aligns with AFD’s goals to promote governance reform, strengthen higher education, and foster digital and entrepreneurial skills. According to him, the project reflects a shared commitment to using ICT as a powerful tool for both academic advancement and socioeconomic development.