The Federal Government has urged vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities to uphold transparency, accountability and due process in the management of their institutions to improve governance and academic standards.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, gave the directive on Tuesday while declaring open the 2026 retreat of the National Universities Commission (NUC) with vice-chancellors in Abuja.
Ahmad said effective leadership and sound governance were essential to achieving sustainable excellence in the Nigerian University System, stressing that university administrators must ensure the responsible management of institutional resources.
She urged vice-chancellors to comply with established procedures in financial management, procurement, recruitment, promotion, admissions, examinations and other administrative activities.
According to her, university leaders must establish clear institutional visions, set measurable performance targets and create an enabling environment for teaching, learning and research.
The minister described the retreat, themed “Enhancing Regulatory Compliance, Governance, Leadership, and Partnership in the Nigerian University System,” as timely, noting that the Federal Government was pursuing reforms in higher education under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She observed that technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital learning, data analytics and virtual laboratories, were transforming higher education globally.
Ahmad, however, warned that universities must adopt AI responsibly by developing policies that protect academic integrity, uphold ethical standards and safeguard institutional data.
She added that the changing demands of higher education required continuous collaboration between the NUC and university administrators to ensure effective implementation of policies and improve institutional performance.
The minister noted that the challenges facing the sector could not be resolved through isolated institutional efforts or regulatory directives alone, emphasising the need for sustained engagement among stakeholders.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, said the retreat provided an opportunity for university administrators and other stakeholders to assess the state of higher education, review existing policies and develop sustainable solutions to the sector’s challenges.
Ribadu said Nigerian universities must remain relevant to national development while strengthening their global competitiveness and responding to changing societal needs.
He stressed that universities had a responsibility to produce graduates with the knowledge, skills, competence and creativity needed to contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
The NUC executive secretary also disclosed that the commission had introduced new guidelines governing the award and use of honorary doctorates, including sanctions for institutions that violate the regulations.
On research and innovation, Ribadu urged universities to translate their findings into practical solutions, technologies and products that could address challenges in agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, environmental management and the creative industry.
He said stronger links between research and practical applications would help universities contribute more directly to national development and economic growth.
