By CERHI Communications Unit | November 2025

The 3rd of November 2025 marked a defining moment for higher education and research in Africa as the National Universities Commission (NUC) officially launched the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Alliance in Abuja, Nigeria. The event, which also featured the unveiling of a four-volume Compendium on Key Achievements and Impacts of the ACE Project, drew together leading academics, policymakers, development partners, and representatives of Africa’s foremost research institutions, including the Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI).

Hosted under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Education, the launch underscored Nigeria’s leadership in driving education, research, and innovation across the continent. It also celebrated the remarkable impact of the ACE initiative, which has transformed postgraduate education and applied research in key areas such as health, agriculture, science and technology, and environmental sustainability.

As one of Nigeria’s leading Centres of Excellence, CERHI proudly participated in the event, reaffirming its role as a continental leader in reproductive health research, training, and policy innovation.

Since its establishment at the University of Benin, CERHI has consistently contributed to addressing Africa’s reproductive, maternal, and child health challenges through cutting-edge research, postgraduate education, and impactful community-based interventions.

Participation in the ACE Alliance offers CERHI expanded opportunities to:

  • Strengthen collaborations with sister Centres across Nigeria.
  • Share best practices in health systems innovation and education.
  • Engage with industry, policy actors, and development partners to translate research into measurable health outcomes.

The launch of the ACE Alliance represents more than a symbolic milestone; it is a commitment to institutionalizing research excellence and regional collaboration. By bringing together Nigeria’s and Africa’s top research Centres, the Alliance will foster synergy, avoid duplication, and accelerate innovation toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For CERHI, this moment reaffirms the Centre’s dedication to generating knowledge that transforms lives, influences policy, and drives sustainable development across Africa. As the ACE Alliance begins its journey, CERHI stands ready to contribute its expertise, partnerships, and passion for excellence toward shaping the future of higher education and health innovation on the continent.

Representing CERHI, Professor Nathaniel Inegbedion, Centre Leader, emphasized that the Alliance “represents an important milestone in the journey of African universities toward self-sustaining excellence,” noting that it opens new avenues for collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based policy impact in reproductive health and beyond.

As one of Nigeria’s flagship Centres, CERHI remains committed to advancing research, innovation, and capacity building in reproductive and maternal health. Through its participation in the ACE Alliance, CERHI aims to expand regional partnerships, enhance postgraduate education, and translate research into solutions that improve lives across Africa.