From July 5th to 12th, 2025, the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) hosted its annual Programs Orientation Week in Lagos, bringing together 158 beneficiaries including 100 scholars, 30 faculty fellows, 24 graduate doctors, and 4 university leaders from six of Nigeria’s leading universities. This year’s orientation week was designed to reflect NHEF’s deepened commitment to not only nurturing individual excellence but also fostering systemic transformation across higher education, industries, and academic leadership.
Structured around four flagship programs; the NHEF Scholars Program, Faculty Program, Graduate Doctors Program, and a newly introduced NHEF Higher Education Leadership and Transformation Program, the 2025 Orientation Week offered a dynamic blend of training, dialogue, exposure, and institutional reflection.
The 2025 Scholars Program trained 100 outstanding students, selected through a rigorous application process from nearly 1,400 applications, in interactive sessions on leadership, ethics, communication, and career skills – equipping them to bridge classroom learning with a successful transition to the workplace. Highlights included a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, centred on governance and youth leadership; an immersive workplace simulation Assessment Centre Day with in-tray exercises, role plays, presentations, and group tasks; and the NHEF Chairman’s Fireside Chat with Landmark Africa CEO, Paul Onwuanibe, who challenged scholars to think boldly about their future. The program concluded with a capacity-building workshop at Lagos Business School, where scholars engaged in case-based learning and real-world problem-solving.
The Graduate Doctors Program welcomed its second cohort of 24 early-career medical professionals for an immersive and transformative experience. The program equipped participants with critical skills in leadership, ethics, and patient-centred care, alongside practical exposure to today’s dynamic healthcare landscape. Highlights included a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification at Evercare Hospital and a visit to Lakeshore Cancer Center, which deepened clinical leadership capacity and introduced innovative approaches to healthcare. Through this intensive program, the Graduate Doctors were equipped not only with new certifications but also with the knowledge, networks, and renewed sense of purpose to lead in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
The 2025 Faculty Program, an NHEF initiative supporting the professional development and capacity-building of faculty members within partner universities, convened 30 lecturers, selected through a rigorous process from nearly 500 applications, for training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in pedagogy, academic leadership, curriculum innovation, grant writing, and institutional transformation. Designed to enhance teaching, research, and administrative capabilities, the program fostered a stronger academic environment across Nigerian universities. A highlight was the competitive inter-university challenge on enhancing teaching with AI, won by the University of Port Harcourt team. The program concluded with a reflective learning day at Lagos Business School, where participants engaged in sessions on building resilient institutions and integrating technology into teaching and research.
A major milestone was the launch of the NHEF Higher Education Leadership & Transformation Forum, a newly launched initiative designed to strengthen the leadership capacity of Vice-Chancellors to manage complex institutional challenges, drive transformational change, and engage policymakers in shaping higher education policies that foster institutional growth. The Forum convened four distinguished university leaders: Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos; Prof. Ahmed Adamu, Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University; Prof. Oguejiofo Ujam, Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Prof. P. O. Olapegba, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), University of Ibadan. The sessions examined institutional strategy, research ecosystems, and the practical steps needed to move from vision to impact, producing forward-thinking strategies for institutional transformation. These roadmaps were later presented to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the NHEF Higher Education Forum.
The week closed with the NHEF Graduation Ceremony, a celebratory and symbolic moment honoring the scholars, faculty, graduate doctors, and Vice Chancellors. The keynote address, delivered by Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, was a rallying call for integrity, courage, and visionary leadership. Her words echoed the heart of the entire week: that the future of Nigeria depends not just on technical skill, but on character and commitment to public good.
In summary, the 2025 NHEF Programs Orientation was not merely a series of events, it was a deeply intentional investment in Nigeria’s future. From undergraduates to university leadership, from classrooms to clinics, NHEF continues to raise a new generation of transformative leaders equipped to shape a stronger, smarter, and more just society.