NHEF Seeks Professionalisation of Varsity Advancement Offices to Boost Financial Sustainability

Funmi Ogundare

The Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF), yesterday, stressed the need for the professionalisation of university advancement offices as part of efforts to strengthen alumni engagement, fundraising capacity and long-term financial sustainability in Nigerian universities.

Executive Director of the University Advancement Programme (UAP) of NHEF, Dr. Anastasia Okaomee, stated this at a three-day capacity-building workshop organised for university advancement professionals, in Lagos.

The programme, she noted, was designed to build the capacity of personnel responsible for alumni relations, fundraising, marketing, communications and advancement services, with the ultimate goal of reducing universities’ overdependence on government funding.

“The programme is intended to professionalise alumni relations and fundraising, and advancement functions in universities in Nigeria. The end result is that we are looking at long-term sustainability for institutions,” she stated.

She explained the initiative begins with foundational training aimed at equipping advancement officers with the skills required to strengthen alumni engagement and attract financial support for their institutions.

One of the major challenges facing Nigerian universities, she said, is the weak relationship between institutions and their alumni, adding that stronger engagement would translate into increased donations and other forms of support.

“By strengthening the capacity of fundraising and alumni relations professionals, we will improve alumni engagement and the level of donations and financial support that come into the institutions,” the executive director added.

Okaomee identified several gaps hindering effective advancement practice in Nigerian universities, including the absence of a defined career structure for advancement professionals and the frequent turnover of both staff and leadership in advancement offices.

She observed that many universities have operated advancement offices for decades without establishing sustainable systems that support continuity and professional growth.

“There are institutions that have had advancement offices for over 20 years, yet because of the lack of professionalised systems, those offices are struggling today,” she said.

According to her, advancement personnel are often transferred to other departments after receiving specialised training, while directors of advancement are frequently changed due to administrative transitions, resulting in the loss of institutional knowledge and momentum.

Okaomee called for the creation of a dedicated advancement cadre within the university system to ensure career progression and staff retention.

She also urged university managements to reconsider the practice of appointing academic staff with teaching responsibilities to head advancement units, arguing that the demands of advancement work require full-time attention.

“One of the things we hope to achieve is a career structure for advancement professionals in universities. We also need to begin looking away from having teaching staff head advancement units while carrying teaching loads because advancement requires focused attention,” she stated.

Speaking on the relationship between alumni associations and university advancement offices, Okaomee emphasised the need for collaboration rather than competition.

She acknowledged that many alumni associations prefer to independently raise and manage funds for projects they intend to execute for their alma maters, but stressed the importance of synergy between both parties.

Speaking with journalists, a member of technical working group representing federal universities in the northeast, Prof. Shehu Mustapha Liberty, called for increased participation of alumni, private organisations and other stakeholders in the funding and development of higher education, stressing that government alone cannot shoulder the growing financial demands of universities.

He said the capacity-building workshop had equipped participants with practical strategies for attracting external support to strengthen Nigerian universities.

According to him, one of the major lessons from the training was the need to broaden the funding base of universities by engaging stakeholders beyond government.

“University education is a very critical and important enterprise that cannot be left to government alone. The whole essence of advancement is to see how other stakeholders can support university education in Nigeria,” he said.

He noted that advancement offices in universities were established to facilitate stronger partnerships with alumni, development organisations, corporate bodies and other supporters willing to contribute to educational development.

Liberty described the initiative as consistent with ongoing efforts to reform the education sector and promote sustainable funding models for tertiary institutions.

“We have learned quite a lot about fundraising, engaging alumni who are critical stakeholders, and reaching out to non-governmental organisations and other partners that can support projects in our universities,” he said.

He emphasised that universities occupy a strategic position in national development because they produce future leaders and skilled professionals across different sectors of the economy.

He added that the knowledge gained during the training would help institutions strengthen their capacity to fulfil their teaching, research and community service mandates.

He expressed confidence that the lessons from the training would help reposition universities to become more resilient, financially sustainable and better equipped to produce the next generation of leaders.

The acting Director of the Directorate of Advancement and Alumni Relations at Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo State, Dr. Charles Omobayo, underscored the critical role of stakeholder engagement and alumni participation in achieving sustainable development in Nigerian universities.

He stated that the workshop had deepened his understanding of advancement as a strategic tool for institutional growth and long-term sustainability.

“One of the key lessons from the training is that university advancement should be regarded as an integral component of the higher education system capable of driving sustainable development when properly implemented.

He emphasised the importance of alumni communities in supporting universities to achieve their development goals through stronger engagement and collaboration.

“I have come to understand that advancement is actually a key part of the university system that can enhance sustainable development. I have also understood the fact that the alumni community plays a major role in achieving that goal of advancement,” he said.

Omobayo noted that one of his major takeaways from the workshop was the importance of strategic planning and inclusive stakeholder participation in achieving institutional objectives.

According to him, development initiatives are more likely to succeed when they are carefully planned and when all relevant stakeholders are actively involved in the process.

“A plan that is well thought out and involves all stakeholders is achievable. Nothing is too big to be achieved as long as every major stakeholder is involved,” he stated.

Omobayo further emphasised the need for universities to adopt strategic approaches to fundraising, alumni engagement and stakeholder relations, noting that sustainable growth can only be achieved through deliberate planning and collaboration.