MacArthur Foundation Grant to Strengthen Nigeria’s Universities

One of the goals of the MacArthur Foundation in Nigeria is to help improve the country's higher education system. This pursuit is based upon the belief that strong universities and intellectual freedom are essential to developing and sustaining healthy democratic societies.

The MacArthur Foundation is currently working with four of Nigeria's leading universities - the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Bayero University Kano, and the University of Port Harcourt - in an effort to strengthen them and bolster reforms that they have initiated.

MacArthur's efforts on behalf of universities in Nigeria are carried out in conjunction with the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa, launched in April 2000 by the Carnegie Corporation and the Ford, Rockefeller, and MacArthur Foundations. In 2005, the Mellon and Hewlett Foundations joined the Partnership. The initiative is designed to support efforts, many already underway, by leading African institutions to expand and improve higher education.

An organisation wishing to approach the foundation for support to strengthen Nigeria's universities may submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) informing the Foundation of the proposed project. The format for these letters can be found in the section How to Apply.
Deadlines for the submission of LOIs related to this grantmaking are listed below. Following a multi-stage review process, selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals for grants to be considered by the Foundation's Board of Directors.


Letter of Inquiry Deadline

• February 1
• May 1
• August 1
• November 1

Board Consideration

• June meeting (of same year)
• September meeting (of same year)
• December meeting (of same year)
• March meeting (of following year)