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The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a bold new initiative—the Blueprint ICT Development (Blueprint-ICT-Dev) Project, a $40 million digital transformation program designed to modernize the country’s tertiary education system through the integration of digital infrastructure, smart learning environments, and innovation ecosystems.
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Announced this week in Abuja by Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project will be piloted across 10 federal universities and is funded through a $40 million credit facility from the French Government, via its international development agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
10 Pilot Universities for Digital Overhaul
The beneficiary universities are:
- University of Calabar
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- University of Ibadan
- Federal University of Technology, Minna
- University of Maiduguri
- Bayero University, Kano
- Modibbo Adama University, Yola
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
- University of Jos
These institutions will receive significant ICT infrastructure upgrades aimed at enabling hybrid and cross-border learning, modernizing data systems for evidence-based education policy, and expanding digital access in underserved communities.
Strategic Focus on Smart Campuses and Human Capital
“This project is a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian education. It’s about building smart campuses, empowering smart people, and nurturing smart ideas,” said Dr. Alausa, emphasizing its alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which focuses on human capital development, inclusive digital transformation, and educational reform.
Project Breakdown and Strategic Goals
According to Dr. Joshua Attah, Coordinator of Special Projects at the National Universities Commission (NUC), the project consists of two main components:
- Component 1 ($38 million): Focused on upgrading ICT capacity across the 10 selected universities to enhance the quality of teaching, learning, and institutional operations.
- Component 2 ($2 million): Dedicated to the development of a National STEM Transformation Strategy to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education in Nigerian universities.
Global Collaboration for Educational Impact
The launch event brought together key stakeholders including the French Ambassador to Nigeria, representatives from AFD, Vice-Chancellors, and international development partners.
“This initiative is not happening in a vacuum. It aligns squarely with our national goals and serves as a model for international collaboration in driving sustainable innovation and inclusion across Africa’s higher education landscape,” said Alausa.
The Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project is expected to catalyze digital innovation, create smart academic ecosystems, and provide a scalable framework for transformative education reforms throughout Nigeria and the broader West African region.
