As the 2nd World Bank-sponsored African Centres of Excellence (ACE) projects in select universities conclude their current phase in Nigeria, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has charged stakeholders of beneficiary institutions to look beyond donor support and focus on sustainability, and transitioning from temporary project status to permanent institutional assets.
The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, who gave the charge at a pre-closure retreat in Abuja, lauded the ACE-Impact initiative, noting that it has elevated Nigeria’s academic institutions into globally competitive hubs of knowledge generation, innovation, and development.
Ribadu disclosed that the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) project in Nigeria is set to conclude its current phase of funding by June 30, and also revealed that the ACE Centres have produced high-quality master’s and PhD graduates, secured international accreditations, attracted major external funding, and driven innovation across key sectors.
In his remarks, the National Project Coordinator of the ACE Project, Joshua Attah, while highlighting the project’s achievements to include the training of master’s and PhD students, regional academic integration, and significant research output, hinted that “the 17 ACE centres in Nigeria have earned $89.1 million through Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) and generated additional funding from local and international sources.”
The ACE initiative, backed by the World Bank and regional governments, has demonstrated the transformative power of targeted investment in higher education and research on the continent.
As the project concludes its current phase, stakeholders are optimistic about its lasting impact on Nigeria’s academic landscape and its potential to drive growth and regional leadership.
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