Twelve public universities have been given N12 billion by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to undertake research.
The amount which according to TETFund, is to be shared equally among the universities, to enable them carry out research and implement development programmes that would contribute to national growth.
Some of the universities selected to benefit from this includes; University of Abuja (UNIABUJA); University of Benin (UNIBEN); University of Ibadan (UI); University of Maiduguri (UNIMAD); Bayero University Kano (BUK); Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka; University of Uyo (UNIUYO); Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; University of Jos (UNIJOS); University of Lagos (UNILAG); Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto.
According to TETFUND, The universities were drawn from first, second, and third-generation universities in the country. Two universities per geopolitical zones.
Presenting allocation letters and guidelines to Vice-Chancellors of the universities, Executive Secretary of the Fund, Suleiman Bogoro said the Federal Government graciously approved N1 Billion as a take-off grant for each of the universities, totaling 12 Billion. According to the terms of reference, within a five-year period, the University of Abuja is expected to blaze the trail as centre of excellence in public governance and leadership.
In same vein, the University of Jos and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University are expected to churn out research in food security, while the University of Maiduguri would focus on arid zone research and development and Uthman Dan Fodio University Sokoto would concentrate on urology and nephrology. Bayero University Kano would focus on renewable energy, Michael Okpara University would focus on root crop research and development and Nnamdi Azikiwe University would dwell on agricultural and engineering translational studies.
Others are the University of Benin, aquaculture and food technology; University of Uyo, in computational intelligence; University of Ibadan to focus on multi-disciplinary studies, and the University of Lagos in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.
Bogoro said the aim for establishing the centres of excellence is to support strategic and applications-oriented research and expertise with potential industrial applications.
He said the implications of these are that they would be expected to support national and globally competitive research and development in strategic and applied sciences, including medicine with the aim of generating innovations.
The 12 pioneer universities are also expected to bring together the complementary resources needed for technical development and industrial application.
“This includes concentrating multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and translational research competence in order to further the development of products, processes, and services, typically by focusing on problems that demand larger efforts than can be provided by smaller projects. Bridging the gap between researchers and users, stimulating and strengthening triple-helix relationships. This is in order to enhance scientific research being patronized by industry and in order to make the tertiary educational institutions generally more responsive to industry needs. In addition is expertise development and training at doctorate level in areas of industry interest, and the development of knowledge management platforms and innovation hubs” Bogoro stated in the terms of reference.
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