Following a groundbreaking investigation of lack of transparency and accountability in the declaration of funds received by Universities in Nigeria by the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, the Federal government of Nigeria has issued a directive to all universities in the country to begin to publicize on their websites sources of funds they receive and how they spent same .
The directive issued by Mrs. Boriowo Folasade , the Director Press and Public Relations stated ‘’ In a bold move to entrench transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s tertiary education system, the Honourable Minister of Education Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa has issued comprehensive directive mandating all Federal Vice- Chancellors, Rectors and Provost to publish key institutional data on their official websites with immediate effect. Aligning Nigeria’s higher education management with global best practices.
‘’Each institution must provide it’s Annual Budgetary Allocation in full detail including the breakdown of expenditure across three core areas: personnel cost overhead costs and capital expenditure. In addition, institutions are to disclose their Research Grant Revenue from the previous year. This data should be separated into two distinct sources: grants obtained from domestic bodies such as local industries, government agencies, or foundations; and those received from international sources, including foreign institutions, multilateral organizations, and development partners’’
It can be recalled that The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership released its Transparency Survey Report, in its Athena Policy Brief titled ‘’ A national embarrassment : Reforming Transparency in Nigerian Universities to unlock global funding and restore credibility ‘’ exposed alarming levels of financial secrecy across Nigerian universities — a national embarrassment that stifles funding threatens research excellence and undermines institutional credibility. The findings were presented at the official launch of the Athena Dr Arthur Nwankwo Institute for Education and Intellectual Freedom and the Athena Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Institute for Health and Social Equity, held in Abuja on March 5, 2025.
Speaking during the launch of the transparency survey, the Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Chief Osita Chidoka a former Minister of Aviation and former Corp Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) revealed that the lack of transparency and accountability denied the country’s universities from attracting global grants which is a huge source of funding for universities that are transparent.
Following the Key recommendations by the Athena Centre,the FG further ordered the universities to also ‘’ displayed the TETFund Allocation for the current year. The Institutions must clearly show the total amount received from the TETFund, reflecting financial support for academic and infrastructural development in the present calendar year. The directive further mandates that institutions to publish the total value of their Endowment Fund as recorded at the end of the previous year. This figure, which reflects funds donated or invested for the institution’s long-term financial health, must be updated quarterly to ensure currency and transparency.
‘’Finally, institutions are to present their current Total Student Population which must be categorized into undergraduate and postgraduate levels, thereby providing a clear picture of enrolment and institutional capacity’’
The Ministry emphasizes that this information must be presented in a clear, accessible, and user-friendly format for public visibility. Websites should be structured in a way that allows the public, including parents, students, and stakeholders, to easily locate and understand these data points.
Furthermore , the FG ordered that ‘’All federal institutions are expected to comply fully with this directive and ensure that their websites are completely updated no later than May 31, 2025.
‘’To ensure adherence, the Federal Ministry of Education will conduct periodic reviews of institutional websites and take appropriate administrative actions against non-compliant institutions. These reviews will be used to gauge compliance and drive policy decisions that promote transparency.
‘’This policy is part of a broader reform initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in the nation’s tertiary institutions, enhancing performance-based funding, and improving Nigeria’s global education indices.The Honourable Minister of Education has called on all heads of tertiary institutions to treat this directive with the urgency and seriousness it demands, as it represents a critical step in collectively uplifting the integrity and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s education sector’’
See below investigation of the Disturbing Findings on University Secrecy By Athena centre for Policy and Leadership that prompted the FG to react:
The Athena Centre’s comprehensive survey covered 64 Nigerian universities—including 30 federal, 18 states, and 16 private universities across all six geopolitical zones. The results reveal a troubling pattern of institutional opacity:
Not a single university surveyed published its budget, audited accounts, or visitation panel reports on their website.
None disclosed a breakdown of internally generated revenue (IGR) or how these funds were spent.
Repeated requests for financial information under the Freedom of Information Act were either ignored or outright denied by university authorities.
How Nigerian Universities Compare to Global Peers
In stark contrast, the report found that all 9 African and global benchmark universities, including the University of Cape Town (South Africa), the University of Nairobi (Kenya), the University of Ghana, and the University of Cambridge, make their financial reports publicly available online, fostering trust and attracting significant external funding.
Global research consistently shows that transparent universities attract more research grants, partnerships, and international student enrollment.
“This culture of secrecy is driving away donors, blocking global partnerships, and starving our universities of much-needed funding,” said Chief Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of Athena Centre. “Universities should be role models of openness, accountability, and innovation, not fortresses of secrecy.”
Athena’s Call to Action for Reforms
In pursuit of a more transparent, accountable, and globally competitive university system, we propose establishing a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to embed financial transparency, governance reforms, and performance accountability across all Nigerian universities — federal, state, and private.
This framework will mandate
I. Annual audited financial disclosures,
II. Enforce proactive compliance with the Freedom of Information Act,
III. Establish a University Transparency and Accountability Portal to provide unrestricted, public access to critical financial and governance data.
IV. Full disclosure of internally generated revenue (IGR) and expenditures.
V. Universities demonstrating exceptional transparency and governance standards will be recognised through a University Transparency Index, driving healthy competition and reputational rewards.
To sustain these reforms, we need to professionalise university financial management, strengthen the Auditor-General’s role to focus on governance and systemic risks and restructure visitation panels into a three-year governance review cycle that links financial audits directly to governance reforms.
Ultimately, these measures will restore public trust in our universities and attract increased funding from both public and private sources, creating transparent, accountable institutions positioned for global excellence.
The Athena Centre and its partners remain committed to working with the National Universities Commission (NUC), professional bodies, and all relevant stakeholders to institutionalise these reforms and ensure financial transparency becomes the bedrock of Nigeria’s higher education governance.
Athena Centre’s Impact and Commitment
In just one year, Chidoka highlighted that the Athena Centre has already positively influenced policy reforms in areas like post-election audits, malnutrition, health system reform, and education governance.
“The time for excuses is over. Transparency is not optional — it’s the key to unlocking funding, restoring trust, and positioning Nigerian universities as credible players on the global stage,” Chidoka concluded
