FG launches $40m ICT project in 10 universities

FG launches $40m ICT project in 10 universities

The National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have launched the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project, a €40 million initiative aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure and ICT capacity in Nigerian universities.

The project, which will be implemented in 10 federal universities across the country, is part of the broader Blueprint for the Rapid Revitalisation of University Education in Nigeria, developed by the NUC in 2018.

Delivering a speech at the launch event, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the project is a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian education.

“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 said.

Alausa added that the project is about restoring hope, in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu to a sector that holds the key to national renewal.

“Let us therefore work together to make this project a model for innovation, impact, and international cooperation,” he said.

He commended the French Government and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the sole sponsor for the laudable project and their visionary investment and unwavering support.

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Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, stated that the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project aligns with the broader national digital economy agenda and supports the strategic goals of revitalising the university system through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable capacity development.

He unveiled the 10 universities selected to participate in the project, which include University of Calabar, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Maiduguri, Bayero University, Kano, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and University of Jos.

In his goodwill message, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Marc Fonbaustier, 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 NUC, 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.

On his part, Coordinator of Special Projects, Dr. Joshua Atah, explained that the project aims to strengthen the digital backbone of participating universities and equip them with the tools, systems, and capacities needed to become ICT-driven institutions.

The project comprises two major components: Component 1, which has an allocation of $40m, is for the development of ICT in selected Nigerian universities to improve the quality of teaching and learning, and Component 2, which aims to develop a National STEM Transformation Strategy for Nigerian universities.

The project is expected to improve the quality of education delivery, enhance research capabilities, and promote digital innovation in Nigerian universities.

FG launches $40m ICT project in 10 universities