The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, FCVSN, is currently in Germany as part of a high-level Nigerian delegation to deepen academic cooperation between Nigerian and German universities.
The visit, facilitated by the German Academic Exchange Service in partnership with the Consulate General of Germany in Lagos, focuses on strategic engagements aimed at expanding opportunities for Nigerian students and institutions.
A key highlight of the discussions is the proposed establishment of an Academic Evaluation Centre in Lagos, designed to streamline and fast-track visa processing for Nigerian students seeking to study in Germany.
During the visit, the Executive Secretary, alongside the Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Professor Andrew Haruna, and Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sunny Echono, will engage with key stakeholders including DAAD officials, German universities, accreditation bodies, and representatives of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin and Bonn.
These engagements are expected to foster stronger institutional linkages, enhance academic mobility, and promote knowledge exchange, ultimately advancing the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s university system.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), formally known in German as Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, was established in 1925 as a joint initiative of German universities and student bodies to promote international academic relations.
Recognized as the world’s largest funding organization for the international exchange of students and academics, the DAAD has supported over three million scholars in Germany and abroad since its inception, according to 2024 statistics.
Beyond scholarship provision, the DAAD plays a pivotal role in advancing the internationalization of German higher education and research. It offers strategic guidance to universities on global engagement and international marketing, promotes the German language and German studies worldwide, and supports countries in the Global South in strengthening their higher education systems.
It is reported that in 2024 alone, the DAAD, alongside European Union programmes, supported more than 140,000 individuals globally, further consolidating its position as a leading organization in academic exchange. Its offerings span a wide range of opportunities, including study periods for undergraduate and postgraduate students, doctoral programmes, internships, guest lectureships, academic visits, and support for the establishment of higher education institutions abroad.
The DAAD also facilitates the global engagement of German universities through targeted marketing services, publications, events, training programmes, and dedicated funding for international university partnerships.
Scholarship opportunities for international applicants are advertised through the DAAD scholarship database and disseminated via German embassies, regional offices, Information Centres, DAAD lecturers, and partner institutions worldwide.Furthermore, the DAAD serves as the National Agency responsible for coordinating and implementing the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme within the higher education sector.