A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday 28th April, 2025, between the National Universities Commission and the US Market Access Centre (USMAC) Inc. with the purpose to establish a framework for collaboration between the US Centre and NUC, aimed at Increasing knowledge of the processes of innovation and entrepreneurship among the staff of the NUC as well as Rapidly develop a Pedagogy and Training Content related to Innovation and Entrepreneurship that can be taught at Nigerian universities.
The ceremony which took place at the office of the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, FCVSN, had USMAC, along with its partner, the Global Innovation Dojo to present to the Commission a concept document outlining its high-level view of the work needed to implement the NUC’s vision and mandate as it relates to technical skills development, entrepreneurship and innovation education at Nigerian universities.
While signing the partnership deal, Professor Ribadu commended USMAC for the laudable initiative and declared that NUC has braced up to play very significant role in the course of the collaboration, which include facilitating and encouraging participation from interested universities\participants.
Among other salient issues in the MoU include that the Commission shall cover the expenses of each of its staff who participate in the training programmes as well as provide information on the project to prospective donors and also issue letters of introduction to USMAC when requested.
Professor Ribadu buttressed NUC’s unwavering commitment to deliver on its mandate by engaging with USMAC (and its global partners) in order to leverage its expertise to assist in defining, designing and implementing a wide range of initiatives that will result in the creation of world-class innovation and entrepreneurial education and ecosystems at universities in Nigeria, summarizing that the end result was always striving towards providing a well-coordinated and productive university system that guarantees quality as well as relevant education for national development and global competitiveness.
The Head of the USMAC team, Dr Chris Burry appreciated the Commission’s doggedness in fostering a strategic collaboration between NUC and USMAC that promises to advance the ability of the parties involved to achieve the requirements of their statutory missions and mandates.
He explained that some of the things USMAC intend to do is to provide expertise and technical assistance to NUC (both on the ground in Nigeria and remotely) as required to develop the master plan for programmes to be implemented under the MOU, and also assist in the implementation of the master plan.
On its part, USMAC shall provide insight and best practices related to faculty and course accreditation processes and procedures, while also jointly designing and delivering training for NUC staff and the ecosystem stakeholders in best practices for developing an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem (e.g. managers of existing incubators, accelerators, technology parks, training center, and investors).
USMAC will also develop and/or source training pedagogies and related content, they are expected to also lead in the delivery of incubation and acceleration program, Identify and approach funding sources other than Nigerian Government entities (e.g. UNDP, UN Women, World Bank, IFC, GIZ, the European Union, JICA and others), provide access to relevant industry actors, including but not limited to corporate innovation teams from major global technology companies, universities, angel investors and venture funds.
It will also ensure timely budget delivery of projects while adhering to prescribed quality standards and engage the faculty at UC Berkeley’s Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology in support of these efforts.
The Parties agreed to seek opportunities to collaborate in the following areas:
- Development of a multi-year Master Plan for the various activities envisioned by the MOU
- Creation of a Program Management Office to oversee the design and delivery of the programs being developed and delivered under the scope of this MOU
- Design and delivery of training and capacity-building programs on entrepreneurship and innovation for NUC staff
- Joint development and design of a pedagogy for teaching innovation and entrepreneurship at universities in Nigeria
- Joint development and creation of course content in the following topic areas (including but not limited to):
- Entrepreneurship Development
- Sales and Marketing Skills in a Digital world
- Leadership Development
- People management
- Early-stage startup investing
- Basic, intermediate and advanced technical skills in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cybersecurity.
- Joint development, creating and implementation of non-classroom programs, services and investment vehicles that will enable students to turn their ideas into companies. These may include:
- Creation of startup incubation and acceleration programs based on best practices from Silicon Valley and other major technology hubs.
- Development of a robust early-stage startup investment ecosystem to include government grant programs, angel investors, angel networks and venture funds
- Development of research collaborations between educational institutions in Nigeria and universities in the United States, Europe and Asia
- Creation of a vibrant local startup community
- Foster connections between the startup ecosystem at Nigerian universities and startup ecosystems in other parts of the world, including Silicon Valley,
- by bringing university-based startups and ecosystem stakeholders to other ecosystems and
- bringing investors and actors in major ecosystems to Nigeria
- Building relationships with major technology companies and universities in Nigeria in order to ensure students at these institutions have access to the latest technology and any other mutually agreed initiatives.
The MOU shall remain in force for a period of 3 years and each party is expected to work together in a coordinated fashion for the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of the MOU.