The National Universities Commission (NUC) has urged vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities to strengthen regulatory compliance, institutional governance, research innovation and digital transformation to improve the quality and global competitiveness of university education.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the 2026 NUC Retreat with Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in Abuja.
The two-day retreat, which began at 9 a.m. on October 13 at the NUC Secretariat, is themed “Enhancing Regulatory Compliance, Governance, Leadership, and Partnership in the Nigerian University System.”
It brings together vice-chancellors, strategic partners and NUC management to discuss challenges facing the university system and develop a shared approach to strengthening institutional performance and sustainable development.
Ribadu urged university leaders to embrace ethical leadership, build strategic partnerships and ensure that research conducted in their institutions produces practical solutions to national challenges.
He stressed the need for clear commitments and measurable actions to translate discussions at the retreat into improvements across the Nigerian University System.
Among the initiatives highlighted at the meeting were the e-NUC digital platform, the development of a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap and Policy Framework, and efforts to strengthen the commercialisation of university research.
The e-NUC platform is intended to automate the commission’s workflows, while the development of accreditation software is aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in quality assurance processes.
The commission is also seeking to strengthen the link between university research and industry by supporting the conversion of research findings into marketable products, innovations and practical solutions to national development needs.
The focus on digital transformation and research commercialisation comes as universities face growing pressure to improve teaching and research quality, respond to technological changes and demonstrate the wider value of their work to society.
The retreat is expected to conclude with a communiqué outlining agreed actions and institutional commitments by the participating university leaders and the commission.
