Nigerian higher education leaders explore new routes to university-industry collaboration at UWE Bristol-led event supported through HEIF

Innovative approaches to university-industry partnerships to improve graduate employability in Nigeria were discussed by the country’s higher education leaders at an event brought together through UWE Bristol’s Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET).

Thirty Vice Chancellors and Directors of Entrepreneurship Centres from universities across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones met at the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja. The event was an opportunity for the country’s sector leaders to explore strategic opportunities to enhance educational outcomes in Nigeria through university and industry partnerships and entrepreneurship education.

The workshop, convened by Paschal Anosike, Director of CASET and Chair in African Research and Partnerships, was organised in collaboration with the NUC and supported by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). The event marked renewed commitment to strengthening Nigeria's higher education landscape through research, knowledge sharing, policy engagement and strategic partnerships.

Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu FCVSN, Executive Secretary of the NUC, stressed the importance of active and sustained dialogue among university leaders. He highlighted the workshop as a platform to generate evidence-based insights that can shape future policy.

He said: “The NUC is committed to supporting initiatives that foster innovation, collaboration, and research impact in Nigerian universities. The outcomes of this workshop - including the forthcoming report and whitepaper - will directly inform our policy directions.”

Professor Anosike emphasised the need for stronger university-industry links, and the development of strategic networks and policy frameworks that support sustainable change and innovation in Africa's higher education sector.

“This is not a one-off event but the first in a series of research and knowledge exchange activities that aim to bring together university leaders, policymakers, and the private sector. By working together, we can create the ecosystem needed to transform education into a driver of inclusive economic growth,” he said.

UWE Bristol launched CASET earlier this year - a collaborative platform to support African-led innovation, research and higher education initiatives that respond to some of the continent’s key social and economic priorities.