Wike mocked Amaechi over the turnout at a town hall meeting in Cross River State, claiming that fewer than 200 people attended the gathering.

The FCT minister made the remarks during his media chat on Tuesday while responding to suggestions that the emerging opposition ticket involving Atiku and Amaechi was causing concern among supporters of President Bola Tinubu.

Recounting Amaechi’s comments at the meeting, Wike said the former Rivers State governor had expressed confidence in Atiku’s chances, citing the regional origins of the major presidential contenders.

“I watched Amaechi; he had a town hall meeting in Cross River. I can tell you the numbers not up to 200 people,” Wike said.

According to Wike, Amaechi told those present that the election had effectively been decided in Atiku’s favour, based on the geographical distribution of the candidates.

“He said, ‘Atiku is from where? North. Tinubu is from where? South. Obi is from where? South. Donald Duke is from where? South. Atiku has won the election,’” Wike recounted.

The minister questioned Amaechi’s decision to make such a prediction while addressing supporters at a town hall meeting.

“How can a vice-presidential candidate go to a town hall meeting, standing and telling his supporters, ‘Do you know how this election has been won?’” he asked.

When asked whether Amaechi’s argument was based on the assumption that Atiku, as the leading northern candidate, would have an advantage over his southern rivals, Wike referred to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

“In 2023, Atiku ran, Obi ran, Tinubu ran, who won?” he asked.

Wike maintained that the 2027 presidential election would differ significantly from the previous contest.

“I’ve always told you people, 2027 will be totally different from 2023,” he said.

The commission also intends to introduce post-accreditation monitoring visits, develop new software for accreditation exercises and establish guidelines governing the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees.

The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, disclosed these plans on Tuesday in Abuja while opening the 2026 retreat with vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities.

Ribadu said the commission was committed to improving the quality of university education through stronger regulation, effective leadership, digital transformation and more rigorous institutional monitoring.

He explained that the NUC had introduced post-matriculation monitoring and carrying-capacity visits to scrutinise admission processes and ensure universities did not exceed their approved admission limits.

According to him, the commission is also preparing to commence post-accreditation monitoring visits to determine whether universities continue to comply with prescribed standards after their academic programmes have been accredited.

Ribadu added that new software for accreditation exercises was being developed to enhance transparency, improve data management and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

The two-day retreat, which brought together vice-chancellors from federal, state and private universities, is themed “Enhancing Regulatory Compliance, Governance, Leadership, and Partnership in the Nigerian University System.”

NUC Plans National AI Policy

Beyond admission reforms and accreditation, Ribadu announced plans to develop a national artificial intelligence (AI) roadmap and policy framework for Nigerian universities.

He noted that emerging technologies were transforming how knowledge is produced, taught and accessed, making it necessary for universities to prepare adequately for the changes.

However, the NUC executive secretary cautioned that digital transformation should go beyond purchasing computers and other technological equipment.

He stressed that universities must also prioritise staff training, cybersecurity, institutional preparedness and policies to ensure the responsible use of technology.

Ribadu revealed that the commission had already developed and deployed the e-NUC platform to automate its internal workflow, while the development of accreditation software was ongoing.

He also said the commission had strengthened its operational guidelines since he assumed office on December 23, 2024.

According to him, the NUC’s Policy Development Strategy Committee had completed a review and produced Blueprint 2.0 for the Rapid Revitalization of Nigerian University Education.

He further disclosed that the commission was developing a strategic plan suited to the demands of the 21st century. It is also transitioning from the Annual Performance Evaluation system to a Performance Monitoring System pioneered by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Ribadu urged vice-chancellors to strengthen institutional planning and establish clear targets for measuring progress within their universities.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, also called on university administrators to promote transparency, improve regulatory compliance and ensure the effective management of their institutions.

Ahmad, who declared the retreat open, said the challenges confronting higher education could not be resolved through isolated efforts by individual universities or regulatory directives alone.

She emphasised the importance of sustained engagement between the NUC and university managements to ensure effective policy implementation and keep institutions responsive to national priorities and global developments.

The minister urged vice-chancellors to demonstrate accountability in financial management, procurement, recruitment, promotion, admissions and examinations.

She also encouraged university leaders to establish clear institutional objectives, set measurable performance targets and create environments that promote academic excellence.

Ahmad warned that although artificial intelligence, digital learning, data analytics and virtual laboratories presented significant opportunities, universities must protect academic integrity, uphold ethical standards and safeguard data.

She said the retreat should produce practical commitments and actionable outcomes rather than end with discussions alone.

The minister also supported the proposed communiqué and a post-retreat monitoring system to track the implementation of decisions reached during the meeting.

NUC Seeks To Commercialise University Research

Ribadu also called for stronger partnerships among universities, government agencies, industries and other stakeholders to ensure that research findings translate into practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

He identified agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, manufacturing, environmental protection and the creative industry as key sectors where university research could generate economic and social benefits.

The NUC chief disclosed that the commission had launched the ACE Alliance platform to strengthen collaboration among Nigeria’s 20 African Centres of Excellence.

He added that the commission had unveiled a four-volume compendium documenting research outputs from the centres.

According to Ribadu, the Tertiary Education Research and Application Services platform of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund had been integrated with the Nigerian Research and Education Network following a directive from the Minister of Education. The move is intended to encourage research collaboration.

He further revealed that the NUC was establishing a Research Commercialization Division to strengthen intellectual property protection and help transform promising research findings into commercially viable products.

The commission was also working towards organising an international study tour for selected vice-chancellors to universities in Europe and Asia, where they would learn about global best practices in research commercialisation.

Ribadu said the initiatives were designed to ensure that research conducted in Nigerian universities contributed more directly to national development.

Acknowledging that inadequate funding remained a major obstacle to university development, he urged institutions to explore alternative funding sources, including partnerships with private companies, alumni associations and development partners.

He, however, cautioned that such arrangements must comply with regulatory requirements and align with the objectives of the institutions involved.

The NUC executive secretary also disclosed that the commission had established partnerships with development organisations, including the World Bank, Agence Française de Développement and the African Development Bank, to attract additional support for university development.

He assured stakeholders that the commission would continue working with relevant partners to improve the quality of university education and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian institutions.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and NUC Director of Research, Innovation and Information Technology Transfer, Lawal Mohammed Faruk, said the retreat was organised to strengthen relations between the commission and university managements.

Faruk explained that the meeting was expected to improve regulatory compliance and quality assurance, promote good governance and transformational leadership, and encourage strategic partnerships for the advancement of university education.

Ribadu urged vice-chancellors to uphold integrity, accountability and established procedures in managing their institutions, stressing that institutional interests must take precedence over personal considerations.

The retreat is expected to conclude with a communiqué outlining agreed policy actions and commitments by participating universities. A post-retreat monitoring and feedback mechanism is also being proposed to assess progress and ensure that the decisions reached are implemented.