The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, FCVSN on Thursday 28th August, 2025, received a 3-Man Delegation from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), led by its outgoing country Director, Mr. Xavier Vier Muron on a courtesy visit to his office.
Briefing the Executive Secretary on the mission of the delegation in the Commission, Mr. Muron said it was aimed at formally introducing the incoming Country Director, Mr. Anprou Jacky, to the Management of the NUC as a key partner of the AFD projects in Nigeria. He added that they also came to the Commission to further discuss some of the ongoing projects of the AFD in partnership with the Nigerian University System (NUS).
Mr. Muron stated that the AFD would continue to explore additional areas for potential collaborations aimed at strengthening the existing partnership to ensure that more Nigerian universities benefit maximally from the AFD projects. He added that AFD planned to embark on the digitalisation of Nigerian Universities in order for them to meet the global standards and by extension, to ensure they occupy their rightful place in the university space worldwide.
The outgoing Country Director said that the AFD’s projects in Nigeria had achieved tremendously, especially with the efforts of the stakeholders including the NUC, noting that more could still be achieved if they cooperated with the incoming Country Director.
In his response, Professor Ribadu expressed gratitude to the delegation for their visit and assured them that the NUC would continue to support AFD’s initiatives in Nigeria. He gave a rundown of the evolution of the Commission, which according to him, was established just after the Nigeria’s Independence as an Office in the Cabinet, starting its regulatory functions with the University of Ibadan as an affiliate of the University College, London.
Professor Ribadu gave further insights into the main functions and activities of the Commission and the Nigerian University System (NUS). He said the Commission currently has over 300 universities under its regulatory watch with different proprietorship, Federal, State and Private Universities. He said that the Commission has also introduced the CCMAS after a thorough review of the former BMAS document.
The NUC Scribe also informed the delegation that the Commission had also introduced the Transnational Education TNE into the NUS and that such has opened opportunities towards expanding access in the university landscape. He added that NUC as a quality assurance agency, would spare no effort towards ensuring that standard is maintained in the System in the best interest of the graduates’ output.
Professor Ribadu thanked the outgoing Country Director for his unwavering efforts, which were evident in the series of achievements recorded under his stewardship, including the ACE Impact Assessment, among others. He also extended a hand of fellowship and promise to the incoming Country Director.
In his contribution, the Coordinator Special Project, Dr. Joshua Atah said that Nigerian Universities had benefitted maximally from the AFD’s projects, noting that many more universities would benefit more from the upcoming projects, especially the blueprint projects.