TETFund and Nigeria’s paradigm shift in research funding

This year, the world is confronted with a pandemic that is causing even more havoc on the global economy. Though novel, the emergence of COVID-19 reinforces some of the very old messages we have known.

For instance, global economic progress and productivity is anchored on research, innovation, and finding solutions to problems. It is in this context that we welcome the recent review of the National Research Fund (NRF) domiciled with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to N7.5 billion for 2020 from an initial N5 billion in 2019. Though may not help immediately, it shows that an agency of the federal government understands the importance of research to solving problems.

The amount is the highest so far. In 2011 it was N3 billion, N1 billion in 2015, N5 billion in 2019, and now N7.5 billion in 2020. The federal government also approved the establishment of six medical simulation research and clinical training facilities in six colleges of medicine in each geopolitical zone of the country. This is a bold step to support research and development programmes in Nigeria.

The recent increases in research funding also shows that TETFund is finally fulfilling a key mandate for which it was set up. TETfund, established in 2011 to disburse, manage, and monitor education tax to government-owned tertiary institutions, was formed as a product of the Education Tax Act of 1993. Prior to its establishment, government-owned tertiary institutions were poorly funded. The scheme was therefore designed to improve on the management of funds disbursed to these institutions and encourage research and development.

While we welcome the increase in research funding through TETFund, this is not sufficient. Government research funding, now led by TETFund, should be the minimum as we encourage all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to underpin their search for solutions to myriads of Nigerian problems and across sectors through serious, sustained, and sustainable research approaches. Unlike many countries that spend upwards of 5 – 10 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on research and development, Nigeria is estimated to spend less than 0.5 percent, with the federal government allocating 0.02 percent of its annual budget.

This is not only one of the lowest in the world, but very embarrassing too, especially following the pledge by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 to increase investment in research, science and technology. No country can progress without investment in research and development and human capital all of which are central to economic success.

It is in this regard that we align with the move by TETfund to advocate the establishment by law of a National Research and Development Foundation to ensure a coordinated national framework for the sustenance and implementation of Research and Development and to promote an effective interface between universities, government and the private sector especially the industrial sub-sector of the economy.

With the accelerated growth of a new global economy and the urgent focus on socio-economic issues, there is a need for a national re-calibration and re-sensitisation of operations and policies targeted at sustainable innovative research and development operations.

Research benefits are enormous. Thanks to cutting-edge research, innovative new treatments are emerging every day especially in the health, science and technology sectors. Due to such breakthroughs; lives are becoming more enjoyable and living conditions are improving. Research also helps to boost a nation’s economy. In recent decades, research initiatives have led to the launch of numerous commercial start-ups ventures that are generating jobs, revenue and stronger communities. Such research sparks a virtuous cycle with considerable momentum, good for our nation’s long-term health and economic well-being. Hence, in disbursing the approved N7.5 billion, it is important that research must be conducted in line with Nigeria’s unique challenges with the purpose of proffering solutions. Also, the FG must be ready to adopt results from these researches to make informed policies.

On the flip side is the ugly incidence of fraud and corruption that has been associated with some research funds released to some agencies in the past. There is also the sad tale of some Nigerian professors not being capable of getting grants for research because of poor research proposals. Despite the growing number of Nigerian professors, said to be about 8000, it is worrisome that many of them have low capacity to write quality research proposals or possess the comparative international capacity to undertake quality research towards solving Nigeria’s problems. This perhaps accounts for the non-utilisation of local and international research grants. A situation where greater concentration is placed on publication of research outcomes rather than focusing on addressing myriad challenges starring the country in the face is unacceptable.

In conclusion, we encourage TETFund to ensure that the process of awarding the research grants do not follow the typical Nigerian outcome of monies expended without tangible results. Given the funding across science, technology, social science and innovation, the minimum expectation of Nigerians is to see research outcomes that demonstrate a path and solution to the country’s many problems.