ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has urged universities across the country to strengthen university alumni funding as part of efforts to improve financial sustainability, expand research and build globally competitive higher education institutions.
Education Minister Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa made the call on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the National University Advancement Programme (NUAP) training for university officials in Abuja, describing alumni engagement as a critical pillar for transforming Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
He says universities must move beyond dependence on government allocations by building lasting relationships with graduates capable of supporting research, infrastructure, innovation and student development.
“When universities maintain strong relationships with their alumni, research receives greater support, students gain access to scholarships and mentorship opportunities, institutions build stronger partnerships, infrastructure improves and innovation expands,” Alausa says.
The university alumni funding initiative forms part of the National University Advancement Programme, a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigerian Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) and the Africa Finance Corporation.
The programme seeks to establish professional advancement offices within universities to coordinate alumni relations, fundraising, endowment development and strategic resource mobilisation.
Alausa explains that the initiative is designed to complement—not replace—government investment in higher education.
“The National University Advancement Programme is not intended to replace government support for higher education. Rather, it complements existing investments by creating additional pathways for sustainability.”
He says stronger alumni engagement has become a defining feature of world-leading universities, enabling institutions to finance cutting-edge research, modern infrastructure, academic exchanges and innovation ecosystems.
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