The National Universities Commission, NUC, says it is working towards automating the accreditation process for Nigerian universities and establishing a central students’ results and transcript bank as part of efforts to improve efficiency and transparency in the university system.
Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, disclosed this while speaking on Trade FM, saying the commission is also planning to bring research-oriented universities together to develop solutions to Nigeria’s economic and social challenges. He said the initiative would involve collaboration with government agencies and industries to attract local and international researchers and ensure that university research is taken beyond the laboratory and scaled for practical use.
Ogundipe said Nigeria needs to strengthen funding for research and create stronger links between universities, government and the private sector. He advocated the “triple helix” model, where government, industry and universities work together, noting that businesses could establish offices and research facilities within universities while providing students with practical industry experience.
The professor also called for greater adoption of apprenticeship and industry-based learning, particularly in fields such as engineering, nursing and architecture, saying students who gain practical experience before graduation would be better prepared for the labour market.
On the growing demand for university admission, Ogundipe said Nigeria’s existing universities are not sufficient to meet the country’s growing population and rising number of applicants. He, however, stressed the need for the NUC to balance expansion with strict regulation, quality assurance and improved standards.
He further identified open and distance learning as an important avenue for expanding access to tertiary education, predicting a future of “borderless universities” where students could take courses from institutions in different countries and have the credits recognised by their home universities.
On the use of artificial intelligence in education, Ogundipe said AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a replacement for human intelligence. He urged lecturers to adapt their teaching methods to ensure students understand and can defend work produced with the assistance of AI, rather than imposing an outright ban on the technology.
Ogundipe also urged university managers to diversify their sources of funding instead of relying heavily on government allocations and student fees. He recommended stronger research-grant drives, alumni engagement, endowments and partnerships with businesses, stressing that universities should give potential partners clear incentives and specific projects to support.
He said successful partnerships could involve companies funding faculties, scholarships, research projects and infrastructure while having their names attached to supported projects. Ogundipe cited previous collaborations at the University of Lagos, including industry involvement in infrastructure and practical training, as examples of how stronger university-business relationships could benefit institutions and students.
He also called for greater engagement with Nigerians who have made significant contributions to society, saying a stronger culture of university endowments and philanthropy would provide additional resources for education. Ogundipe acknowledged that the culture of giving to universities is still developing in Nigeria but said growing interest in scholarships and endowments offers hope for the future.
On migration and brain drain, the former vice chancellor said migration cannot be completely stopped, arguing that people naturally move to countries they perceive as offering better opportunities. He said the focus should instead be on creating programmes that encourage students and professionals to maintain strong links with their home institutions and return where possible.
Ogundipe said the NUC is expected to make progress on the proposed research collaboration framework within the next year, while emphasising that universities must create an environment where research, innovation, industry partnerships and entrepreneurship can thrive.
