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The Federal Government has said the National University Advancement Programme (NUAP) was deliberately designed to move beyond classroom theory by equipping university leaders and advancement teams with practical knowledge, global best practices and institutional frameworks in alumni engagement, donor stewardship, fundraising and sustainable university development.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, stated this in a keynote address delivered on his behalf at the closing ceremony of the National University Advancement Programme training for university officials.
He described the programme as a strategic intervention aimed at helping Nigerian universities become financially resilient, globally competitive and better positioned for long-term growth.
According to the minister, the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening higher education institutions by building their capacity to attract alternative funding and develop sustainable institutional systems.
“The National University Advancement Programme is not intended to replace government support for higher education. Rather, it complements existing investments by creating additional pathways for sustainability, innovation, research support, scholarships and long-term institutional growth,” he said.
Alausa explained that NUAP was established through a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) to institutionalise professionally managed Advancement Offices across federal universities and inter-university centres.
The minister said the offices would coordinate alumni relations, donor engagement, endowment management, strategic communications, fundraising and institutional partnerships, helping universities strengthen their financial base while expanding research opportunities and global visibility.
He noted that Nigerian universities have a vast network of accomplished alumni working across business, medicine, science, technology, entrepreneurship and public service, describing them as one of the country’s most valuable but underutilised resources.
According to him, stronger engagement with alumni can generate increased support for research, scholarships, mentorship, infrastructure development and innovation.
Alausa urged participants to return to their institutions and apply the skills acquired by establishing transparent systems that promote accountability, improve governance and strengthen institutional trust.
He reaffirmed that the Federal Government’s education reform agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda remains focused on strengthening institutions, expanding access to quality education and positioning the sector as a catalyst for national development.
Speaking at the event, Chairperson of the Technical Working Committee of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation, Claire Jemide, described the foundation as a strategic partner committed to strengthening Nigeria’s higher education system through investment in people, institutions and sustainable partnerships.
She explained that the University Advancement Programme, launched after the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal Ministry of Education in January 2026, represents a major step towards equipping universities with practical tools for alumni engagement, fundraising, communications and institutional advancement.
The programme brought together vice-chancellors, university administrators, advancement officers and senior officials from federal universities and inter-university centres across the country for intensive capacity-building sessions on global best practices in university advancement and long-term institutional development.
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