Nigerian universities have been urged to strengthen their capacity for international grants acquisition and strategic resource mobilisation to remain globally competitive, relevant and financially sustainable.

The call was made by Andrew Haruna, secretary-general of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, and Ken Oguzie, managing director of Optimal Delivery Solutions Projects and Corporate Services Limited.

They spoke at a collaborative research workshop held at the CVCNU secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

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

He noted that although Nigerian universities are eligible for numerous international funding opportunities, many institutions face challenges, including weak proposal development capacity, poor alignment with donor priorities and inadequate institutional frameworks for grants acquisition.

According to him, excessive reliance on government subventions has limited universities’ ability to diversify funding sources through international grants, industry partnerships and collaborative research networks.

“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,” he said.

Mr Haruna described the workshop as timely, noting that it would expose participants to practical approaches for strengthening institutional capacity, building partnerships and improving grantsmanship practices.

He urged universities to align their research priorities with global development needs while projecting strong Nigerian and African perspectives in research outputs.

Mr Oguzie identified three strategic shifts required for Nigerian universities to attract global funding. He said institutions must move from individual-driven efforts to institutional strategies, from local orientation to global relevance, and from competition to collaboration.

Mr Oguzie explained that international funders now prioritise research addressing global 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. When leadership prioritises grants, the institution follows,” he said.

He stressed that collaborative research across universities, countries and disciplines significantly improves funding success rates and enhances institutional credibility.

Mr Oguzie added that participants were exposed to emerging global funding trends, compliance standards required by major donors and digital tools for improving research visibility and collaboration.

(NAN)