Alausa Orders VCs To Rebuild Advancement Offices, Diversify University Funding

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has directed Vice-Chancellors of federal universities to strengthen and properly staff their Advancement Offices as part of efforts to diversify funding and improve the financial sustainability of Nigerian universities.

Alausa gave the directive after expressing disappointment over poor participation by Vice-Chancellors at the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) National University Advancement Programme Forum.

He said only 18 Vice-Chancellors attended the forum, while just 30 of the country’s 78 federal universities had participated in the Federal Ministry of Education-NHEF Advancement Programme.

The minister described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that university advancement and funding diversification were critical to the future of the institutions.

According to him, universities can no longer depend solely on government funding, given the enormous opportunities available through alumni networks, research grants, philanthropy, endowment funds and private-sector partnerships.

Alausa directed Vice-Chancellors to place their Advancement Offices directly under their offices, properly staff them and provide advancement professionals with the access, stability and institutional support required to mobilise resources.

“This is no longer a suggestion. It is a mandate,” he said.

The minister said the Federal Government remained committed to funding education under President Bola Tinubu, but universities also had a responsibility to develop alternative sources of revenue.

He advocated blended financing, combining government support with research grants, alumni contributions, philanthropy, private-sector investment and endowment funds.

Alausa said the approach would help strengthen university autonomy and enable institutions to build sustainable financial systems capable of supporting future generations.

He said Nigeria would adapt successful global models of university advancement to the local environment rather than attempt to reinvent existing approaches.

The minister also acknowledged the contribution of Wale Adeosun, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kuramo Capital Management, and the NHEF team to efforts to re-establish and strengthen Advancement Offices across federal universities.

Alausa urged Vice-Chancellors to abandon the culture of waiting for government to fund every aspect of university operations, charging them to build structures capable of mobilising resources and strengthening their institutions.

He said the ability of university leaders to diversify funding and establish sustainable institutions should become an important part of their legacy.