The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced discussions with the World Bank for a $150 million development fund to support the next phase of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) initiative, tagged ACE Innovate Project.

Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, during the official launch of the ACE Alliance and the Compendium on Key Achievements of the ACEs in Nigeria.

Ribadu said the discussions with the World Bank have reached an advanced stage, following the full endorsement of the Minister of Education who according to him, has formally written to the Federal Ministry of Finance requesting engagement with the Bank to submit an Expression of Interest for the $150 million facility.

He said: “The Honourable Minister has formally written to the Federal Ministry of Finance, requesting that it engage the World Bank to submit an Expression of Interest for development funding amounting to USD 150 million for the implementation of the ACE Innovate Project.”

He explained that the ACE Innovate Project was designed to sustain and build upon the achievements of the previous ACE and ACE Impact phases, which have strengthened postgraduate education, research capacity, and innovation in 17 Nigerian universities hosting 20 Centres of Excellence.

According to him, the ACE initiative conceived by the World Bank in partnership with African governments and development partners, has transformed Nigeria’s higher education landscape, producing thousands of master’s and doctoral graduates and generating groundbreaking research in health, agriculture, engineering, ICT, and environmental sciences.

“From the first phase (ACE I) to the recently-concluded ACE Impact cycle, our universities have not only built and equipped modern laboratories and conducted world-class research, but have also produced thousands of master’s and doctoral graduates, many of whom are now advancing research, policy, and enterprise across Africa.

“Our Centres have proven that with the right support, Nigerian universities can be globally competitive and are capable of producing innovations that respond to local challenges while contributing to global knowledge.

“The achievements we celebrate today are not abstract statistics; they are stories of discovery, resilience, and transformation. Through the ACEs, Nigeria has attracted regional students and faculty from across Africa, promoting integration and cross-border collaboration. We have achieved international accreditation for academic programmes offered by the ACEs, thereby aligning them with global benchmarks.

The NUC helmsman added that the proposed ACE Innovate phase would further institutionalise these centres within their host universities and enhance their capacity to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional collaboration.

Ribadu also noted that the Commission was in talks with other international partners, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), to explore complementary funding and collaboration opportunities.

“The goal is to sustain excellence, expand opportunities, and ensure that the structures and systems established under ACE continue to thrive beyond the project’s lifecycle,” he added.

Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Alausa, noted that the ACE Project, funded by the World Bank and co-financed by the French Development Agency, AFD, has significantly strengthened Nigeria’s position as a leader in African higher education.

Alausa noted that the Compendium of key achievements of he ACE projects was a landmark documentation that captures over 2,000 peer-reviewed publications, a directory of scholars and equipment, and a comprehensive record of innovations achieved by Nigerian universities under the World Bank-supported project.

According to him, with the ACE Alliance and the Innovate Project, Nigeria would transform Nigerian universities into engines of growth, innovation, and sustainable development.

“One of the most remarkable achievements of the ACE Project is its contribution to the internationalisation of education. From the report before me, the Nigerian ACEs have attracted students and faculty from across Africa, fostering cross-border knowledge exchange and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for excellence.

“This aligns with our broader agenda to integrate Nigeria into global education data systems, ensuring that our institutions are recognised and ranked among the best worldwide. The ACE Project has, therefore, positioned Nigeria not only as a consumer but also as a provider of high-quality transnational education, and through the ACE Alliance, our Centres can continue to forge stronger partnerships with leading institutions worldwide, promoting joint degrees, faculty exchanges, and collaborative research that benefit students and faculty alike.

“To remain competitive, however, we must continue to benchmark our systems against global standards, leveraging robust data to guide policy, planning, and performance improvement.”

Speaking earlier, the National Coordinator of the ACE Project in Nigeria, Dr Joshua Attah, said Nigeria has led the continent in the implementation of the project under ACE I, in 2014, with 10 Centres of Excellence, and later under ACE Impact, in 2019, with 17 Centres supported by the World Bank and Agence Française de Développement, AFD.

According to him, the Centres have enrolled more than 45,000 students, including participants from over 15 African countries, and produced over 6,600 graduates, among them 1,596 PhDs. Their faculty and students have published more than 4,200 peer-reviewed papers and established over 625 partnerships with industries and research institutions across the world

“Over the past decade, Nigeria’s ACEs have evolved into engines of innovation and excellence. Collectively, they have attracted over $145 million in performance-based funding and mobilised additional resources exceeding N3.9 billion, $46 million, €1.78 million, and £2.6 million from diverse sources, all reinvested into research, infrastructure, and capacity building.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, two Nigerian Centres were designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as testing laboratories—a testament to the relevance of their research infrastructure.

“As we look ahead, the ACE story is proof that with vision, partnership, and persistence, African universities can compete globally and contribute meaningfully to the continent’s transformation.”