NUC launches ACE alliance, unveils compendium of achievements in higher education
By Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, has unveiled the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Alliance and launched a compendium of achievements and impacts of the ACE projects in Nigeria, marking a new chapter in higher education excellence and innovation.
Speaking at the event in Abuja on Monday, 3 November 2025, Professor Ribadu described the launch as a celebration of “a vision fulfilled, a vision of African universities rising to global standards of excellence, relevance, and impact.”
He noted that the ACE Project, conceived by the World Bank in partnership with African governments and co-funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has transformed higher education across sub-Saharan Africa.
In Nigeria, 17 universities hosting 20 Centres of Excellence have trained thousands of postgraduate students, conducted cutting-edge research, and strengthened links between academia and industry in key areas such as health, agriculture, education, ICT, engineering, and the environment.
“From world-class laboratories to internationally accredited programmes, Nigerian ACEs have shown that our universities can be globally competitive,” he said. “These achievements are not mere statistics; they are stories of discovery, resilience, and transformation.”
The newly launched compendium, spanning four volumes, documents over a decade of impact, from more than 2,000 peer-reviewed publications to directories of scholars and state-of-the-art equipment that now support advanced research across Nigerian universities.
Professor Ribadu explained that the ACE Alliance would serve as a sustainability mechanism, ensuring the gains of the project endure. The Alliance, he said, will foster collaboration among Centres through joint research, academic exchanges, and partnerships with government and industry.
He announced the appointment of an Interim Steering Committee comprising leading academics to guide the Alliance. The committee includes Professors Emenike Ejiogu (Chairman), Y.K.E. Ibrahim, Daprim Ogaji, Rasheed Sanni, Abraham Dogo, Hadiza Galadanci, Christian Happi, and Barnabas Ikyo (Secretary).
The NUC, according to Ribadu, has also begun discussions with the World Bank for a new phase, the ACE Innovate Project, expected to attract $150 million in funding to deepen innovation and research capacity in Nigerian universities. Other potential partners include the African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.
Ribadu commended past NUC Executive Secretaries and development partners for their commitment, singling out Professors Julius Okojie and Abubakar Rasheed for their leadership roles in sustaining the ACE vision.
“The story of the ACE Project is one of transformation — of institutions and of mindsets,” he concluded. “As we launch the ACE Alliance, we reaffirm our belief that education remains Africa’s most powerful tool for sustainable development.”