The newly appointed 13th Board of the National Universities Commission has held its inaugural meeting at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The Commission is chaired by Emeritus Professor Oluremi Raphael Aina.
Others on the Board include:
- Director, Universities, Federal Ministry of Education (FME) representing the Ministry;
- Mr. Muhammed Funsho Abdullahi (Representative of the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service,)
- Dr. Saidu Ahmed (Representative of the Ministry of Health)
- Mrs. Aderonke A. Jaiyesimi (Representative of the Ministry of Finance)
- Mrs. Fatima Sugra Mahmood (Representative of Establishment, Head of Service)
- Mr. Alkali Suleiman Ibrahim (Representative of the Ministry of Women Affairs)
- Professor Mohammed Ahmed Waziri (Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine)
- Professor Olu Jegede (Education)
- Professor Augusta Ifeoma Emeneke (Environmental Sciences)
- Professor Sebastian S. Maimako (Humanities, Social and Management Sciences)
- Professor Isaac Adewole (Health Science)
- Professor Ganiyu Adesola Aderounmu (Engineering, Science and Technology)
- Professor Lawal Suleiman Bilbis (Earth, Mineral and Natural Science) and
- Professor Enefiok Essien, SAN (Law).
In his remark, Professor Ribadu confirmed that the Commission has received €3 million as the first tranche of the $40 million l oan secured from the French Development Agency to support ICT projects in the selected universities.He noted that since assuming office about a year ago, the Commission has advanced several initiatives focused on research, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and skills development in Nigerian universities.
“We have secured a $40 million loan from the French Development Agency for the ICT Blueprint Project in 10 selected universities. Only yesterday, the director confirmed to me that the first tranche of €3 million has been deposited in our CBN account to kick-start the process.
“We have strengthened internal financial management, expanded access to university education through the licensing of new private universities, and approved new programmes and units.
“We have also supported the take-off of publicly funded universities, expanded open and distance learning centres, and continued system-wide quality assurance exercises. Currently, the 2025 Accreditation Exercise is ongoing.
“These priorities continue to form the foundation of the Commission’s direction, and I am seeking your support in advancing them,” he said. Professor Ribadu assured the Board of the Commission’s full cooperation, saying the management is ready to draw from the members’ expertise. “We will rely on your wisdom to guide us as we carry out our duties. I am confident that your collective experience will strengthen the Commission’s capacity to guide the Nigerian university system at a time when higher education continues to evolve. We also look forward to using your networks to help advance projects and partnerships that will benefit the Commission and the entire university system,” he added.
Chairman of the 13th NUC Board, Emeritus Professor Oluremi Raphael Aina, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his sustained support for the university sector.
He said the Board is taking up its mandate at a time of transition for higher education, with rising global standards and increasing expectations.
Professor Aina outlined five central pillars that will guide the Board’s work, covering performance evaluation, improved university rankings, digital literacy, research, and institutional reforms. His words: “As we settle into this assignment, permit me to present what I call five pillars that I believe will help guide our stewardship.
“One, evaluation of NUC performance. We must examine in detail the Act that established the NUC. We also need to be conversant with the various amendments to the Act, its vision and mission, guiding principles and ethics. “Then we must study the Commission’s operational challenges and landmark achievements. Going forward, we should compare ourselves against global standards – not sentiments or history – and determine where we fall short, how we fall short, and why we must adjust boldly.
“Two, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration. The President has made education a pillar of national rebirth with the establishment of the fund and other initiatives. “The signal to the world is that Nigeria is ready to reset and rebuild. Through our assignment, we must work with other key stakeholders in the higher education sector to pragmatically resolve the longstanding agitations of the Academic Staff Union and other university unions. “Advancements must also be made to enhance digital literacy, especially the use of artificial intelligence as a tool to strategically reposition universities nationally and internationally. Overall, it will be a priority for the 13th Board to work with management for radical improvements in both the global and webometric rankings of our universities.
“Three, identifying and dismantling obstacles to university quality. Governance deficiencies, funding constraints, research stagnation and others must no longer be accepted as normal. Our duty is to reform and make progress, not to manage decline.
“Four, reviewing existing funding and exploring new channels for sustainable financing. Nigerian universities cannot thrive on ingenuity alone. The Board must intensify the search for alternative funding sources, strengthen utilisation, and explore emerging and local opportunities.
“And five, investing in the welfare and capacity of NUC staff and regulatory infrastructure. The system cannot outperform its operators. Credible accreditation and monitoring require strengthened conditions of service and protected regulatory independence.”
Professor Aina added that the Board would fully leverage technology in its operations.
“We will seek to leverage technology to ease our burden through the adoption of digital platforms to advance our collective objectives. And I have a charge for the Board: this Board, in whom I am well pleased, carries the expectations and aspirations of the Nigerian people,” he said.