Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Universities Commission (NUC) has secured an initial €3 million from a $40 million French Development Agency loan to begin large-scale upgrades of ICT infrastructure in ten Nigerian universities, marking the start of an ambitious digital transformation programme.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, during the inauguration of the 13th NUC Board at the Commission headquarters.
Prof. Ribadu said the deposit—confirmed by the French agency and already lodged in the Central Bank of Nigeria—will kick-start the ICT Blueprint Project aimed at improving digital access, learning tools, and university competitiveness.
He highlighted major achievements since assuming office nearly a year ago, including strengthened financial controls, approval of new private universities, expanded open and distance learning, and progress toward the 2025 nationwide accreditation exercise.
Ribadu urged the new board to bring its expertise to the reform effort, saying: “We will rely on your wisdom… your collective experience will strengthen the Commission’s capacity.”
Board Chairman, Emeritus Professor Oluremi Raphael Aina, affirmed a bold five-pillar agenda centred on rigorous institutional self-assessment, alignment with the administration’s education renewal plan, removing systemic obstacles, innovative funding, and improved staff welfare and digital infrastructure.
Declaring that governance failures can no longer be tolerated, Aina said, “Our duty is to reform and make progress, not to manage decline.” He also pledged to leverage AI and modern digital platforms to improve Nigerian universities’ global rankings.
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Mirian Gom 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Oluwatobi Adu