Every VC Must Find New Funding Sources – Alausa

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has said that finding new sources of funding is part of the responsibility of every Vice Chancellor, as he directed federal universities to strengthen their Advancement Offices and diversify revenue streams.

Alausa spoke at the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation National University Advancement Programme Forum on Wednesday, where he expressed disappointment that only 18 Vice-Chancellors attended the event.

“Of our 78 Federal Universities, only 30 participated in the FME-NHEF Advancement Programme in the first place. For something this important to the future and financial sustainability of our universities, we must do better,” Alausa said.

Alausa said he had since assuming office urged universities to strengthen their Advancement Offices and diversify funding.

“The truth is: no university can survive on government funding alone,” he said.

He noted that universities are sitting on “enormous opportunities through their alumni, research grants, philanthropy, endowments and private-sector partnerships,” but that too many had deprioritised the structures needed to unlock them.

The minister said blended financing — combining research grants, alumni contributions, philanthropy, private-sector investment and endowment funds — is the path towards greater university autonomy.

“Finding new sources of funding is also part of the responsibility of every Vice Chancellor,” Alausa said.

Alausa gave Vice Chancellors a clear directive: rebuild and properly staff Advancement Offices, placing them directly under the Office of the Vice Chancellor.

“This is no longer a suggestion. It is a mandate,” he said.

He said President Bola Tinubu has made it clear that the administration will not renege on its commitment to education, but that universities must also play their part.

The minister urged Vice-Chancellors to take responsibility for building the structures and mobilising resources for their institutions.

“We are not reinventing the wheel. We will take what works globally, adapt it to Nigeria and build institutions that can thrive for generations,” he said.

“To our Vice Chancellors: the era of waiting for government to fund everything must end. Build the structures. Mobilise the resources. Strengthen your institutions. That is your responsibility, and it must become part of your legacy,” Alausa said.