Nigerian universities have been urged to strengthen their capacity to secure international grants and adopt strategic approaches to resource mobilisation in order to remain competitive, globally relevant, and financially sustainable within an increasingly dynamic academic landscape.
The call was made by the Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Professor Andrew Haruna, alongside the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Optimal Delivery Solutions Projects and Corporate Services Limited, Mr. Ken Oguzie, during a collaborative research workshop held at the CVCNU Secretariat in Abuja.
The workshop, themed “Unlocking Global Funding: Resource Mobilization and International Grantsmanship for Nigerian Universities,” convened key stakeholders to examine practical strategies for enhancing access to global research funding opportunities.
Concerns over widening funding disparities were raised following reports that the University of Cape Town recently unveiled an endowment fund valued at N441 billion, significantly surpassing the combined N6.8 billion endowments of eight Nigerian public universities. This development underscores persistent challenges within Nigeria’s higher education sub-sector, where alternative funding streams remain largely under-utilised.
Speaking on institutional preparedness, Professor Haruna noted that the global academic environment has evolved considerably, with leading universities increasingly dependent on competitive grants to drive innovation, research output, and institutional advancement.
He observed that although Nigerian universities are eligible for numerous international funding opportunities, many continue to face capacity limitations, including weak proposal development, poor alignment with donor priorities, limited institutional frameworks for grant acquisition, and inadequate collaboration.
“For many universities, reliance on government subventions remains dominant, while alternative funding sources such as international grants, industry partnerships, and collaborative research networks are not being strategically explored,” he stated.
He added that the workshop was both timely and essential, as it seeks to equip participants with practical tools for strengthening institutional capacity and fostering effective partnerships.
In his remarks, Mr. Ken Oguzie outlined three critical strategic shifts required for Nigerian universities to attract global funding: a transition from individual-driven efforts to institution-wide strategies, from localised thinking to global relevance, and from competition to collaboration.
He emphasised that funding organisations are increasingly focused on addressing global challenges such as climate change, food security, artificial intelligence, public health, and inclusive development.
“Grant writing is not merely a technical skill; it is a strategic capability. When leadership prioritises grants, institutions follow,” he stated.
Mr. Oguzie also underscored the importance of collaboration, noting that the most successful grants are often interdisciplinary and cross-institutional, involving partnerships that span countries and regions.
He added that the workshop provided participants with valuable insights into emerging trends in global research funding, institutional resource mobilisation strategies, compliance requirements of major funding bodies, and digital tools for enhancing research visibility and collaboration.
Also speaking, the Lead Consultant at Optimal Delivery Solutions Projects and Corporate Services Limited, Dr. Akanimo Odon, highlighted the critical role of international partnerships and intra-university collaboration in securing successful grants.
Similarly, a Research Officer and facilitator with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Mrs. Joy Ezirim, stressed the need for Nigerian universities to strengthen their institutional branding and global digital presence to remain competitive within the international academic space.
She noted that participants were equipped with practical tools and strategic insights to navigate global funding ecosystems, strengthen internal grantsmanship structures, and build sustainable partnerships with international funding bodies.
“The workshop also provided a platform for networking, peer learning, and inter-university collaboration aimed at expanding participation in international research funding opportunities,” she added.The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities serves as the umbrella body for Vice-Chancellors of federal, state, and private universities in Nigeria, providing a platform for institutional leaders to collaborate, share experiences, and collectively address challenges within the university system.