TETFund Allocates N12bn To 12 public universities

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFund) has allocated the total sum of N12 billion to 12 public universities selected as pioneers of the TETFund Centres of Excellence (TCoEs) to lead research efforts in various fields.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof Suleiman Bogoro, who presented the allocation letters to Vice Chancellors of the universities at the inauguration of the centres in Abuja on Thursday, said  two universities were selected from each of the six geopolitical zones.

Bogoro said the allocation covers a period of five years, during which the centres are expected to embark on problem-solving researches to enhance national development.

He revealed that the aim of establishing the centres of excellence is to support strategic, applied research and expertise with potentials for industrial application, as well as bring together complementary resources needed for technical development and industrial application.

Bogoro added that the initiative will also bridge the gap between researchers and users as well as stimulate the triple-helix relationship of the academia, governance and industry, and enhance scientific research being patronised by the industrial sector.

“Each selected institution is expected to implement its own approved TCoE, With the objective to address a specific national development challenge through preparation of professionals,applied research and associated outreach activities of partners,especially community services,” he said.

He therefore urged the institutions to enhance capacity to deliver national high-quality training to address development challenges and to deliver applied research to address the national development challenge.

Bogoro also said the universities are to build and use industry sector partnerships to enhance impact of the centre on development and increaserelevance of the Centre’s education and research, among others.

He assured the centres of the unflinching support of TETFund towards the realisation of the objectives of the initiative as they embark on the task of implementing the programme.

The 12 universities selected as TETFund’s pioneer centres of excellence include: University of Abuja, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, University of Maiduguri, and Bayero University Kano.

Others are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, University of Uyo, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,  University of Jos, University of Lagos, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

Also speaking, the Chairman, TETFund Board of Trustees, Alhaji Kashim Imam, expressed the fund’s commitment to support tertiary education in the country in any way possible, stating that the fund shares in the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari to impact beneficiary institutions with integrity, quality and accountability.

Imam, who noted that TETFund’s budget for the last two years was within the region of N250 billion respectively, said as at the end of October 2020, the fund had already captured about N251 billion as part of its budget for 2021, and is on course to surpass  its budget for the past two years in 2021. 

He stated that no meaningful economic achievement can take place without research and added  that TETFund will announce a selection of the second batch of centres of excellence next year.

Iman further urged the universities to equip the centres and invest the funds wisely to achieve the objectives for establishing the centres.

Responding on behalf of the Vice Chancellors of beneficiary universities, the Vice Chancellor of University of Benin, Prof Lilian Salami, thanked TETFund for the support and assured that the centres will work hard to meet the expectations of the fund.

Earlier, the Director of Research and Development Centre, TETFund, Dr Salihu Bature, expressed hope that all Nigerian universities will eventually become centres of excellence.

Bature said the fund envisioned that unless universities become centres of excellence, they cannot effectively serve the nation by meeting it’s developmental challenges.

He noted that each year, more centres of excellence will be added to the number, he expressed hope that Nigeria will soon reap from its R&D investments.