Nigeria has reaffirmed its leadership in higher education and regional collaboration with the official launch of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Alliance and the unveiling of a Comprehensive Compendium documenting the achievements and impact of the ACE Project across Africa.
The high-profile event, held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Headquarters in Abuja, was presided over by the Minister of Education, Chief Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, FAMedS, CON, and attended by education leaders, policymakers, and development partners from across the continent.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Alausa said the initiative underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening tertiary and technical education as engines of innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable development.
> “The ACE Alliance is not just a Nigerian initiative—it is an African collaboration built on shared values of excellence and innovation,” the Minister stated. “By connecting our centres of excellence, we are promoting transnational education and building the skills and knowledge base needed for Africa’s future.”
The ACE Alliance brings together all 20 Africa Centres of Excellence (ACEs) established in Nigeria, including those transitioned through the ACE Impact phase, into a unified network that promotes collaboration, research, and regional engagement.
Funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD) in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the ACE Project has strengthened institutional capacity, advanced research excellence, and produced a new generation of skilled graduates contributing to innovation and development across Africa.
The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, described the ACE Project as one of the continent’s most transformative higher education initiatives. He noted that it has set a new benchmark for collaboration and impact-driven research among African universities.
Ribadu also announced plans for the ACE Innovate Project, a new phase with proposed funding of $150 million, designed to deepen partnerships, foster entrepreneurship, and equip young Africans with advanced technical and innovative skills.
“The ACE Innovate Project will expand the gains we have made and prepare our youth to lead Africa’s industrial and technological transformation,” Ribadu said.
The launch of the ACE Alliance and Compendium marks a milestone in Africa’s educational development, highlighting Nigeria’s pivotal role in driving transnational education, TVET advancement, and regional academic excellence.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.