*Nigeria鈥檚 Tertiary Education Trust Fund says the Federal Government has okayed the research funding intervention for higher educational institutions in each of the six geo-political zones of the country

Emmanuel Akosile | 绿帽献妻

Stressing the importance of academic research to national development, the Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), has approved N292.66 billion for disbursement to some public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.

绿帽献妻 gathered Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, Executive Secretary of TETFUND, disclosed this development Tuesday, August 24, 2021, while welcoming all Heads of beneficiary institutions to a one-day stakeholders鈥� meeting at the Nigeria Air Force Conference Centre, in Abuja, FCT.

The Executive Secretary of TETFUND said the intervention, which has been okayed by the Federal Government, would be spread to higher educational institutions in each of the six geo-political zones.

Prof. Bogoro stated at least, a University from each of the six geo-political zones of Nigeria would receive N906.8million, while about N628.4 million will go to each polytechnic and a college of education.

He further explained that the Federal Government has transferred the responsibility of completing the National Headquarters of National Library of Nigeria (NLN) project to TETFUND.

According to him, the library project represents an important national asset that should not be ignored on account of funding challenges.

Bogoro stressed the importance of research to national development, and noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been consistent in approving funds to see that academics churn out quality research works that would address emerging challenges bedevilling the country.

This, he stated, accounted for the setting up of the National Research Fund that has increased from N3billion to N8.5billion in recent times.

He, therefore, expressed delight that Nigeria is moving closer to an emergence of a National Research and Development Foundation, challenged academics to turn around the fortunes of the country through cutting-edge research.

In respect of the 2021 research grants to lecturers, Bogoro called on the Nigerian academics to live up to expectations by churning out good proposals.

The Fund is always ready to finance such an academic exercise, he said.

He added: 鈥淚 have signed the letters of allocation for the research grants that we are issuing out, 217.

鈥淭his is the highest research grant ever. It has never gone beyond 200. We have 217 research grants that have recently been approved.鈥�

Among others, the Executive Secretary disclosed that the Board of TETFUND has approved the review of overseas Master鈥檚 and PhD courses/specialisations.

According to him, more emphasis would now be placed on Master鈥檚 or PhD programmes that are science-based.

Prof. Bogoro said among the overseas Master鈥檚 and PhD courses specialisations with effect from August 2021 are Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Biosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, Industrial Systems and Engineering, Geosciences, Behavioural Sciences, Nuclear Engineering, Oceanography, Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering.