Nigeria Launches €38M Digital University Modernization Project with France
The initiative, backed by a €38 million financing from the French Government through AFD, aims to strengthen digital infrastructure and ICT capacity across selected Nigerian federal universities.
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) will, on 1st of July 2025, formally launch the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project in Abuja. The initiative, backed by a €38 million financing from the French Government through AFD, aims to strengthen digital infrastructure and ICT capacity across selected Nigerian federal universities.
The formal launch, scheduled to take place in Abuja and hosted by the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, will bring 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, and Vice-Chancellors, and Project Team Leads from the 10 participating federal universities.
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.
“The Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project is not simply a technological upgrade. It is a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian education. It is about building smart campuses, empowering smart people, and nurturing smart ideas. He added that the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project “is about restoring hope, in line with the vision of Mr. President, to a sector that holds the key to national renewal.”
–Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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.
“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.”
–Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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.
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.
“The Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project is a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian education. It is about building smart campuses, empowering smart people, and nurturing smart ideas.”
—Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Our vision for the NUS is one where technology becomes the nervous system of our institutions. Digital transformation must become the standard across public and private universities.”
– Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, Executive Secretary, NUC.
“This is not merely an update. It is a decisive leap forward, a bold step to bring teaching and learning in Nigerian universities into the digital age, practically and structurally.”
– His Excellency Mr. Marc Fonbaustier, French Ambassador to Nigeria.
“At the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), we see digital transformation not as a passing trend, but as a pillar for building future-ready, resilient societies. With this project, we are enabling selected Nigerian universities to develop ICT-driven solutions that serve not only academic needs, but broader socio-economic goals”.
-Mr. Xavier Muron, Country Director, AFD.
