The National Universities Commission (NUC) in partnership with the University of Koblenz and University of Erfurt, is holding a workshop on academic entrepreneurship, knowledge and technology transfer for public higher institutions in Nigeria.
Key highlight:
- The National Universities Commission, in partnership with University of Koblenz and University of Erfurt, is holding a four-day workshop on academic entrepreneurship, knowledge, and technology transfer in Abuja.
- NUC urged Nigerian universities to expand beyond teaching and research, becoming centers for innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal development.
- The workshop highlights the importance of the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) in equipping students with entrepreneurial, digital, and critical-thinking skills.
- Participants are exploring ways to strengthen collaboration between universities, industry, government, and investors to transform research into practical solutions and businesses.
- The event aims to promote innovation-driven higher education, improve graduate employability, and strengthen entrepreneurship ecosystems across Nigerian universities.
The four-day workshop is being held at the NUC Auditorium in Abuja.
This was disclosed in the official X handle of the commission on Wednesday.
Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, represented by the Director of Research, Innovation and Information Technology, Malam Lawal Faruk, underscored the need for Nigerian universities to evolve beyond their traditional roles of teaching and research.
He said higher education institutions must increasingly serve as hubs for creativity, innovation, enterprise and societal transformation.
According to him, the changing demands of the global economy require universities to equip graduates with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
He noted that this vision informed the development of the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), a framework designed to promote learner-centred and competency-based education.
Beyond academic knowledge, he explained that the CCMAS equips students with entrepreneurial capabilities, digital skills, critical thinking and the adaptability required in today’s workplace.
Prof. Ribadu further stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration between universities and industry, noting that the success of modern higher education will increasingly be measured by their ability to convert ideas into innovation, innovation into enterprise and research into tangible societal impact.
He added that achieving this objective will require stronger partnerships among academia, government, industry and investors, alongside institutional cultures that encourage creativity and reward innovation.
He described the NUC’s collaboration with the German universities as a reflection of the critical role international partnerships play in advancing entrepreneurship, innovation and knowledge transfer within Nigeria’s higher education sector.
The executive secretary also urged participants to actively engage in discussions, share experiences and develop practical recommendations that will strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems across Nigerian universities.
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He expressed optimism that the workshop would contribute to producing graduates with strong innovative capacities, research capable of addressing real-world challenges and knowledge that delivers value to society.
The workshop featured goodwill messages from representatives of the German Academic Exchange Service, the Embassy of Germany in Nigeria, as well as the Universities of Koblenz and Erfurt.
Participants are also taking part in technical sessions covering entrepreneurship development, innovation ecosystems, graduate employability, start-up support initiatives, university-industry partnerships and institutional SWOT analyses.
The event is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to explore strategies for fostering innovation-driven higher education and strengthening the contribution of Nigerian universities to national development.
