UK Reaffirms Commitment To Nigerian Higher Education, Launches New Partnership Projects

Abuja, Nigeria – The United Kingdom government has reiterated its strong commitment to supporting international education in Nigeria through enhanced collaborations with Nigerian universities.

This pledge was made at the Going Global Conference in Abuja, a three-day event (November 26-28) hosted by the British Council and themed Building sustainable and relevant tertiary education institutions and systems in Africa.

The conference brought together leading figures in tertiary education, including policymakers and industry experts, to discuss the future of higher education in Africa.

A key highlight was the announcement by UK Government International Education Champion, Sir Steve Smith, of three new collaborative projects between UK and Nigerian universities.

These projects, commencing January 2025, will be funded through the British Council’s Transnational Education (TNE) exploratory grants scheme.

Sir Smith emphasised that these partnerships aim to “transform local systems, strengthen institutional capabilities, and create pathways for cross-sector innovation, bringing academia and industry closer together.”

British High Commissioner Dr. Richard Montgomery underscored the importance of investing in higher education to harness Africa’s burgeoning young population.

He stated, “With over 60% of Africa’s population under 25, and projections that population will reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the continent needs to harness a demographic dividend.

” More and better-quality higher education is needed, and education partnerships need to evolve, focusing on strengthening Africa’s domestic higher education systems.”

The conference was attended by key Nigerian education stakeholders, including Minister of Education Tunji Alausa and Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Mr. Chris Maiyaki.

Following the conference, Sir Steve Smith will lead a delegation of 11 UK universities on a visit to Nigerian institutions, including a trip to Lagos, to explore opportunities for sustainable and mutually beneficial TNE partnerships.

This continued engagement underscores the UK’s long-term commitment to fostering a thriving higher education sector in Nigeria.