The University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, to deepen transnational education and academic collaboration.
The partnership is expected to support Nigeria’s higher education internationalisation agenda, promote access to globally-benchmarked programme, enhance research output, and facilitate knowledge transfer to drive innovation, skills development and socio-economic growth.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa said at the event that the agreement provided a major boost for Nigeria’s education sector and represents a bold step toward transforming Nigeria into a hub of academic excellence, innovation and intellectual curiosity.
Alausa added that the collaboration aligned with the Federal Government’s transnational education policy to expand tertiary education access, attract foreign investment, ease placement pressures, and promote global research, innovation and knowledge exchange.
“Through NESRI and international partnerships, we are strengthening infrastructure, teacher training, technology integration and skills development to ensure our graduates are globally competitive and positioned to drive national development.
“This partnership brings world-class education closer to home and positions Nigeria as the first African nation to implement a transnational education model with a UK Russell Group university,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NESRI is Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
In his remarks at the MoU signing, the University of Birmingham Provost, Prof. Nick Vaughan-Williams, said that the United Kingdom Government’s International Education Strategy aimed to make the country a global partner of choice at every learning stage.
Vaughan-Williams said that the strategy sought to grow United Kingdom’s leadership in transnational education and expand access to its high-quality study programmes overseas, strengthening collaboration with key partner countries such as Nigeria.
“The strategy highlights Nigeria as one of the UK’s key partner countries for transnational education development, reflecting our shared commitment to academic excellence and global collaboration,” he said.
Earlier, UNILAG’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, said that the signing of the MoU was historic in Nigeria-United Kingdom academic collaboration.
She said that a framework for the University of Lagos/ University of Birmingham Transnational Education partnership would be developed.
Ogunsola said that the partnership was nurtured for over 10 years through research and academic programmes in global surgery.
According Ogunsola, it offers students a fair, accessible and globally-relevant curriculum while remaining firmly rooted in Nigeria.
“This collaboration reflects UNILAG’s vision of mutual respect, co-creation and shared responsibility, enabling students and faculties to access global research frontiers while producing graduates who are globally competent and socially responsive.
“This MoU creates a framework for transnational education that expands access, strengthens capacity, and deepens equitable partnerships between institutions,” Ogunsola said.
The United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Jonny Baxter, said that partnership between University of Birmingham and University of Lagos would broadens access to world-class United Kingdom education, promote innovation, and equip young Nigerians with skills for a digital future.
Baxter said, “This collaboration combines Birmingham’s expertise with UNILAG’s academic strength, enabling joint research, shared learning, and preparing the next generation with essential skills for an evolving, technology-driven world.”
