The National Universities Commission (NUC) has secured a €38 million credit facility from the French Government to boost internet penetration in academics.
The grant is set to be used in 10 selected federal universities across the six geopolitical zones of the country to drive digital transformation.
The initiative, known as the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project, was formally launched in Abuja on Tuesday.
Funded through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the project aims to upgrade digital infrastructure and strengthen ICT capabilities
The benefiting universities include the University of Calabar (South South), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (South East), University of Ibadan (South West), Federal University of Technology, Minna (North Central), and University of Maiduguri (North East). Others are Bayero University, Kano (North West), Modibbo Adama University, Yola (North East), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (South West), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (South East), and the University of Jos (North Central).
Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, at the official launch of the project on Tuesday, described the effort as a transformative leap for the country’s tertiary education sector.
The minister commended the French Government and the AFD for their commitment, calling the investment “visionary” and aligning it with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on innovation, educational reform, and human capital development.
According to Dr. Alausa, the programme will improve educational data systems, boost teacher capacity, and promote digital literacy alongside flexible learning and community engagement initiatives.
He stated that the project would integrate Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and entrepreneurship into university curricula, enhance research frameworks, and help institutions achieve global competitiveness.
“With the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project, we have a golden opportunity to enhance teacher training, improve content delivery through digital platforms, and enable continuous professional development.
“I urge the universities selected for this project to serve as centres of excellence for teacher innovation and instructional design, equipping educators with 21st-century tools and pedagogical skills,” he stated.
Also speaking at the event, NUC Executive Secretary Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu said the project was conceived to foster digital transformation and innovation, while strengthening higher education delivery in the post-pandemic era.
Ribadu stated that the selected universities would receive enhanced ICT infrastructure and support to build capacity for technology-enabled teaching, research, and institutional management.
He encouraged institutions to digitise administrative processes and make use of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), describing ICT as key to advancing academic governance and performance.
The minister further stressed that the 10 selected universities would act as digital transformation trailblazers for the broader Nigerian university system.
French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, described the Blueprint initiative as “a decisive leap forward in Nigeria’s pursuit of inclusive, innovative, and future-ready education.”
He hailed the leadership of the Ministry of Education, NUC, and participating universities, noting the project’s broader significance as an investment in people, systems, and institutional capacity.
AFD Country Director Xavier Muron echoed the ambassador’s remarks, underlining the programme’s relevance to AFD’s mission of strengthening higher education, nurturing digital skills, and promoting institutional reforms.
“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 said.
He added that the initiative was designed through local collaboration and affirmed AFD’s ongoing financial and technical support to sustain the programme’s long-term impact.
