The Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, is convening the NHEF University Advancement Programme (NUAP) Workshop, a national capacity-building initiative designed to institutionalise professional advancement practices across Nigeria’s federal universities.

As part of national advancement efforts to strengthen the sustainability, resilience, and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s higher education institutions by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Maruf Alausa, the workshop brought together representatives from federal universities across the country for an intensive and practical learning experience.

Speaking during the flag off of the programme in Lagos, the Executive Director, University Advancement Programme (UAP), The Nigerian Higher Education Foundation (NHEF), Dr Anastesia Okaomee, said that the programme is intended to professionalise alumni relations, fundraising, and, in general, to professionalise advancement functions in Nigerian universities.

“What we are doing now is that we are building capacities. We are starting with the foundation of advancement training. As we start from that, we begin to strengthen the capacities of fundraising and the alumni relations professionals, as well as the marketing and communication professionals in the advance service professionals. We are strengthening their capacities to be able to raise funds for their institutions and begin to build relationships with their alumni. Because having strong alumni investment is what is lacking in most of our institutions.

“By achieving that, we are able to, in the long run, improve alumni engagement in the institutions and the level of relations and financial support that will begin to come into the institutions. The end is that we are looking at financial sustainability for the institutions beyond relying on government subventions.”