Federal Government launches $40M ICT upgrade in universities to boost skills, SME collaboration

The Federal Government has kicked off a $40 million ICT transformation project across 10 federal universities to drive innovation, digital skills, and strategic collaboration with Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Unveiled in Abuja, the Blueprint ICT Development (Blueprint-ICT-Dev) Project aims to modernise campuses by digitising academic systems, expanding internet access, and promoting hybrid learning models. The initiative also integrates Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and STEM-focused curricula, preparing students for real-world jobs and entrepreneurship.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described it as a “strategic investment in smart campuses, smart people, and smart ideas,” aligning with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to position education as a pillar of economic development.

For SMEs and tech startups, the project presents new opportunities to engage universities as partners in research, workforce development, digital product testing, and innovation adoption. Businesses in edtech, software, and skills training stand to benefit from institutional demand for tools, platforms, and services.

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Funding Breakdown:

• $38 million will support ICT upgrades in the 10 pilot universities—covering infrastructure, internet connectivity, staff training, and digital resources.
• $2 million will go into a National STEM Transformation Strategy to align university output with market needs.

The selected institutions include University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Obafemi Awolowo University, Bayero University Kano, University of Calabar, University of Jos, and others.

According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), the project is part of a long-term vision to reposition universities as drivers of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Executive Secretary Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu said success will be measured not just in tech deployment, but in how lives and local businesses are transformed.