THE Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, has reaffirmed the commitment of Nigeria to promotion of Transnational Education which aims to enhance knowledge exchange, research collaboration, and faculty development, while also reducing the country’s reliance on foreign education.
Ribadu spoke when he received in audience a delegation from the British Council, comprising the Director, Global Network and British Council, Nigeria on a courtesy call in his office.
Recall that at the Biennial Going Global Conference, held in the United Kingdom (UK) in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from Monday 20 November to Wednesday 23 November, 2023, Nigeria officially launched the consummated NUC Guidelines on Transnational Education by the then Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman and his British counterpart, Secretary of State for Education, Ms Gillian Keegan.
The former minister of Education underscored the importance of TNE, saying it remained a very key and veritable tool for expanding access and broadening equity in Higher Education, given the huge gap between supply and demand.
He noted that Nigerians constituted one of the highest immigrant communities with hunger for education, reasoning that the advent of the new TNE guidelines, signaled a formalised framework for the presence and quality regulation as well as delivery of cross border education beyond the well known long standing individualised collaborations that have existed between Nigerian and British Universities.
Speaking in the same vein, the NUC boss while receiving the British Council delegation, expressed his delight at the active collaboration existing between the NUC and the British Council, especially in the aspect of TNE.
He explained that the TNE guidelines were operational and assured the British Council that the guidelines would be implemented appropriately for all the models.
The Executive Secretary said he was aware that UK universities were applying to participate in the TNE, adding that he was not only interested in access but in the quality of education delivery.
He tasked the British Council to assist on capacity building for staff and participants of TNE, stating that NUC is working very hard to maintain stability in the Nigerian University System (NUS) by ensuring a crisis- free system.
He told the delegation that his doors are open for any suggestions that will move the educational sector to an enviable height.
The leader of the delegation congratulated the Executive Secretary on his recent appointment and wished him well on his new assignment, expressing the British Council’s desire to continue collaboration with the NUC in the area of education which, he described, as important to deepen ties between both countries for the benefit of the future generation.
He also extended their appreciation to Mr. Chris Mayaiki, whom, he said, was very supportive during his time as Acting Executive Secretary which also helped to move the relationship to greater heights.
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He informed the Executive Secretary of the Council’s interest in building stronger ties between Nigeria and British Universities.
He also noted that the recent collaboration on the Going Global Conference was a huge success as the British Council valued the incredible leverage it brought to engagement with some Ministers, Senior government officials, Vice-Chancellors as well as senior academics to forge a common front in the promotion of university education across the globe.
He said the British Council sees Transnational Education (TNE) in Nigeria as a critical way of extending education to young people looking for quality tertiary education as the guidelines put together by Nigeria are advanced and comprehensive.
He stated that British universities were among those interested in exploring the opportunity to extend their reach in Nigeria, remarking that they wished to know the focal areas so that UK universities could support the TNE initiative.
