The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has granted 727 Research Grants to researchers from public tertiary institutions, amounting to over N18 billion, through the National Research Fund (NRF). These grants are intended to support applied research across various academic fields.
Additionally, TETFund has initiated the establishment of central multipurpose laboratories in select Nigerian universities. The agency’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to oversee this infrastructure development, aiming to enhance research capabilities in the country.
According to him, “It is universally accepted that innovative research and its commercialization is clearly the driver of economic growth and prosperity in the contemporary world.
”Thus, it is imperative to make conscious efforts to not only develop our human capital but to also provide research infrastructure to support innovative R&D on a sustainable basis. It is indeed a key prerequisite for accelerated national development and global competitiveness,” Echono said.
Echono further disclosed that the agency is deploying billions of naira to fund research programmes and projects with a view to deepening the institutionalisation of research and development to tackle national challenges.
”You will recall that the Fund has so far awarded a total of Seven Hundred and Twenty-Seven (727) Research Grants to researchers from public tertiary institutions at the cost of over N18 billion under the National Research Fund (NRF) to undertake applied research in various academic disciplines.
”It was observed that some of these scholars who have benefited from the NRF grants have often requested that, to complete the execution of the Research Projects may require them to cross international borders to access certain facilities/equipment due to lack of requisite research facilities in their institutions.
“In some cases, these tend to affect the financial burden associated with the research projects, coupled with time expended for traveling,” Echono said.
The Executive Secretary also went down memory lane on how TETFund provided resources to support groundbreaking research in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how deficit in laboratory infrastructure posed a major challenge to researchers.
“Again, the final report submitted by Nigerian Academy of Science indicates a glaring lack of facilities/equipment to conduct such study in some of the sites visited and a serious deficit in essential laboratory infrastructure needed to produce viable research outcomes.”
He also revealed that the “Academic Staff Training and Development Intervention Programme has enabled the Fund to sponsor over 10227 academic staff for foreign Masters and PhD programs at the cost of over N146 billion, out of which 1,017 were sponsored for bench work at the cost of over N5 billion.
“However, upon return of the scholars to their various institutions, many were unable to share the knowledge acquired and replicate their experiences due largely to the research infrastructure deficit in their institutions.”
Echono highlighted that enhancing the global ranking of Nigerian universities could be achieved through the development of more research infrastructure. As part of its 2023 Special Intervention, TETFund has allocated resources for the creation of two central multipurpose laboratories, one in the Southern and another in the Northern regions of Nigeria. To facilitate this initiative, an ad hoc committee has been established to outline the necessary steps for establishing these facilities.
Furthermore, Echono noted that TETFund is actively working to ensure that similar laboratories become accessible in all six geopolitical zones of the country in the near future. The committee’s terms of reference include making recommendations regarding the scope and effective establishment of these laboratories, considering whether they should be specialized or multipurpose in nature.
”Provide objective guidance on selection of the two beneficiary institutions to host the Laboratories taking cognizance of historical contexts, accessibility, surrounding environment including presence of industries, needs of the nearby Institutions and strategic areas of focus for maximum impact.
“Make recommendations regarding quality infrastructure in terms of laboratory building itself and other necessary facilities needed and equipment.
“Identify the equipment, facilities and infrastructure needed for each laboratory.
“Make any other recommendations that will ensure effective and efficient achievement of strategic objectives for the Establishment of the Laboratories.”
Echono said the committee, which has former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Emeritus Professor Olufemi Bamiro, has chairperson, has one month to submit its report.
In his acceptance speech, Bamiro, who commended Echono for setting up the committee, expressed the readiness of the team to deliver on the assigned task.
“This will surely go a long way in rejuvenating research and training in research in our nation state.
“Permit me to further commend you sir for the composition of the Committee to ensure the implementation of the assignment in line with the stipulated Terms of Reference.
“The Committee, like the assignment, is multidisciplinary in nature, with experts, and I mean really experienced experts, in the areas of food science and technology, energy, engineering, parasitology, medicine, biochemistry, nuclear physics, and architecture. I do not see any critical area of research endeavour that can escape the eagle eyes of the members.”
Other members of the committee are Professor Ekanem Braide, Professor Joseph Ahaneku, Professor Suleiman Mustapha, Professor Yusuf Saidu, Professor Nasir Isa Fagge, Professor Abubakar S. Sambo, Professor Ibrahim Katampe and Mallam Buhari Mikailu.
