Education Experts Urge Nigerian Universities to Overhaul Grant Acquisition Strategies for Global Financial Sustainability

Academic leaders Andrew Haruna and Ken Oguzie call for Nigerian universities to adopt global grant strategies and reduce reliance on government funding.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 7:51 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Peoples Gazette

Shifting Academic Landscapes Demand Diversified Funding Models

The traditional financial structures supporting Nigerian higher education are facing a critical turning point as global academic standards evolve. During a collaborative research workshop held at the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities secretariat, Secretary General Andrew Haruna highlighted a significant shift in the global landscape. He noted that premier international institutions now rely heavily on competitive grants to stimulate growth and research innovation. For Nigerian universities to remain viable, they must transition from a passive reliance on state funding to an aggressive, strategic pursuit of diversified revenue streams.

Identifying Institutional Frameworks and Proposal Deficiencies

Despite being eligible for a wide array of international funding opportunities, many Nigerian institutions are hampered by internal structural weaknesses. Haruna pointed out that a lack of robust institutional frameworks for grant acquisition often leads to poor alignment with donor priorities. Furthermore, a widespread deficit in advanced proposal development capacity prevents many universities from successfully competing for high value research contracts. To bridge this gap, Haruna urged university administrations to prioritize the creation of dedicated offices focused on navigating the complexities of international grant applications and donor compliance.

Strategic Transitions from Individual Efforts to Institutional Policy

Ken Oguzie, managing director of Optimal Delivery Solutions, identified three fundamental shifts necessary for a successful funding overhaul. He argued that universities must move beyond individual driven efforts, where single researchers seek funding, toward comprehensive institutional strategies. This involves transitioning from a strictly local orientation to one of global relevance and replacing inter institutional competition with meaningful collaboration. Oguzie maintained that when university leadership prioritizes these strategic capabilities, the entire academic staff will align with the new institutional goals for external resource mobilization.