It is my pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence (ACE) project, a joint initiative of the World Bank and governments of participating countries to support Higher Education institutions in several critical thematic areas.
We have come a long way since the inception of the program in 2014 when the project launched with 22 Centres in nine (9] West and Central African countries; Now in its 7th year, the entire continent of Africa and indeed Nigeria is beginning to feel the impact of what started as a show of faith in the capabilities and collaborative powers of our researchers on the continent. The project has also grown to include Centres in 8 more countries from East and Southern Africa for a total of forty-three (43) Centres.
Our role as the National Project Performance Review Committee has been rewarding, thanks to the cooperation of our Centres’ leadership and those of our partners. We have been able to provide implementation support and supervision at the national level. It is our express desire that having come into their own, collaborations between ACEs in similar or complimentary fields, across the continent will increase. The cooperation of our newest partners at the French Development Bank AFD pledges to facilitate this.
Our Centres’ Research activities have proven to be critical as they look inwards to address the challenges and needs of the continent. Regional specialisation is thriving. Public awareness of, and engagement with our Centres’ efforts to tackle our unique issues as a continent is on the rise; as well as hope for lasting solutions to said challenges through applied research. We are indeed proud of our Centres and their host universities who are increasingly building knowledge at unprecedented rates and facilitating efficient learning.
Today we are pleased to share with the world our strides in the various thematic areas. Indeed, we are not left behind in solving the world’s problems.
Professor Abubakar A. Rasheed
Executive Secretary NUC
Chairman National Project Performance Review Committee