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Publication Date (Issue Year)
9-2025
Language
English
Country
Nigeria
Abstract
Nigeria is Africa’s biggest economy. Investment in higher education and research can be a catalyst for positive change and innovation. Moreover, Nigeria’s participation in Rsif is advancing a Pan-African approach, internationalization and intra-Africa mobility. Nigeria is one of the nine African countries that is contributing to the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) since 2022. Its contribution of USD 4 million is through the World Bank supported Africa Centres of Excellence for Higher Education for Development Impact (ACE Impact) project, to train Nigerian PhD students in selected African host universities and collaborating with international partner institutions. Through PASET-Rsif Nigeria is building strong institutions and future science leaders to drive a science and technology-led growth and development. The African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Abuja, Bayero University Kano (BUK) and University of Port Harcourt (UniPort) are among the 15 Rsif African Host Universities. There are 47 Rsif PhD students hosted in Nigeria (11 nationalities, 38% women) and 14 Rsif research and innovation awards in Nigeria. 43 Nigerians have been awarded Rsif PhD scholarship (26% women) and there are 95 research publications by the Rsif students (as of 30 June 2025). The report turns the spotlight on Nigerian Rsif Scholars, highlighting how one scholar’s work on nano-composites offer a cleaner future and how the University of Port Harcourt leads an innovation drive, strengthening institutional infrastructure for an innovation ecosystem.