Nigerian Varsities Urged To Tap Global Grants For Research, Development

Nigerian universities have been challenged to strengthen their capacity for international grants acquisition and strategic resource mobilisation to remain competitive, globally relevant and financially sustainable in a rapidly evolving academic environment.

The piece of advice was given by the secretary-general of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Prof. Andrew Haruna, and the managing director/chief executive officer of Optimal Delivery Solutions (ODS) Projects and Corporate Services Limited, Ken Oguzie, at a collaborative research workshop held at the CVCNU Secretariat in Abuja.

The workshop was organised under the theme “Unlocking Global Funding: Resource Mobilisation and International Grantsmanship for Nigerian Universities.”

On eligibility and institutional readiness, Prof. Haruna said the global academic landscape had shifted, with leading universities increasingly relying on competitive grants to drive innovation, research output and growth.

He said that although Nigerian universities are eligible for global funding, many still face capacity gaps, including weak proposal development, poor alignment with donor priorities, limited institutional frameworks for grants acquisition and inadequate collaboration, hindering their ability to access and manage such opportunities effectively

“For many universities, reliance on government subventions remains dominant, while alternative funding opportunities through international grants, industry partnerships and collaborative research networks are not fully explored or strategically pursued.

“This workshop, therefore, comes at a critical time. Over the next two days, we will explore practical approaches to strengthening institutional capacity for resource mobilisation, building effective partnerships and improving grantsmanship practices within our universities.”

Haruna urged the universities to align their research with global priorities while projecting strong Nigerian and African perspectives.

In an interaction with journalists after the programme, Ken Oguzie identified three strategic shifts Nigerian universities must embrace to attract global funding.

He said the institutions must move from individual effort to institutional strategy, from local thinking to global relevance, and from competition to collaboration, as funders increasingly prioritise solutions to challenges such as climate change, food security, artificial intelligence, public health and inclusive development.

“Grant writing is not merely a technical skill. It is a strategic capability. I encourage vice-chancellors to take leadership in this area. When leadership prioritises grants, the institution follows.

The director of Global Engagement/lead consultant at ODS Projects and Corporate Services Limited, Dr Akanimo Odon, who spoke about sustainable strategies for grant sourcing, highlighted the importance of international partnerships and intra-university collaboration for successful grant applications.

The research officer and CVCNU facilitator, Mrs Joy Ambrose Ezirim, stressed the need for Nigerian universities to strengthen their institutional branding and global online presence to remain visible and competitive in today’s academic landscape.

She said the participants were equipped with practical tools and strategic insights to navigate global funding ecosystems, strengthen internal grantsmanship structures and build sustainable partnerships with international funding bodies.