ROLES OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION IN PROMOTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRACTICES IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The study discussed the roles of the National Universities Commission in promoting circular economy practices in Nigerian universities. Depending on secondary data obtained from recognized online and print resources. The study concluded that the NUC roles in driving circular economy practices in the Universities in Nigeria include coming up with policies that support integration of circular economy principles into academic standards, accreditation and quality assurance for sustainable practices, policy formulation and regulatory guidance, monitoring and evaluation of institutional sustainability, capacity building and institutional support, promotion of research, innovation, and knowledge transfer, encouragement of digital transformation and fostering partnerships and stakeholder collaboration, the NUC can drive systemic change toward environmentally responsible and resource-efficient university systems. Strengthening these roles will enhance the contribution of Nigerian universities to sustainable development and global circular economy objectives. Based on these findings, the paper recommends mainstreaming circular economy into regulatory frameworks, incorporate sustainability indicators into accreditation criteria, develop national guidelines for green and circular campuses, strengthen capacity building and training programmes, promote digital transformation in university administration and learning, encourage research and innovation in circular economy practices, establish monitoring and reporting mechanisms, foster strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement, introduce incentives and recognition for sustainable universities and align university sustainability practices with national development goals.