Tinubu boosts tertiary institutions’ research with N7.5 bn grants

Nigeria’s drive towards a knowledge-based economy received a significant lift as President Bola Tinubu approved N7.5 billion in grants for research and innovation in tertiary institutions, a move expected to stimulate ground-breaking studies and technological advancement in Nigeria.

The presidency made available the grant through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which is meant to cater for 174 projects as part of efforts to strengthen research and innovation in tertiary institutions.

According to TETFund, the grants range from N13.6 million to N49.97 million each for the researchers, and cover several priority areas, including health and social welfare, agriculture, science and engineering, power and energy, clean energy, defence technology and security studies, among others.

Beneficiary universities include Federal University of Technology, Minna, with 18 grants; Federal University of Technology, Owerri, getting 11 grants; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with 10 grants; University of Ilorin, eight grants; Bayero University, Kano, got seven grants; and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with seven grants.

Others are University of Jos, receiving six grants; University of Ibadan, with five grants; the University of Lagos, five grants; and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, five grants, respectively.

Besides, TETFund, in its statement, disclosed that newly established federal universities, state-owned institutions, polytechnics, and colleges of education also featured among successful beneficiaries.

Institutions such as Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State; Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma/Saakpenwa, Rivers State; and Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, are among the federal newly established universities that benefitted from the grants.

State-owned institutions include Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Ekiti State University; Kwara State University; Adamawa State University; Rivers State University; and Sokoto State University.

Polytechnics have Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; Federal Polytechnic, Bida; Federal Polytechnic, Nekede; Federal Polytechnic, Moguno; Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji; Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi; Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri; Yaba College of Technology; Kaduna Polytechnic; and Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto.

For colleges of education, the beneficiaries include College of Education, Katsina; Osun State College of Education, Ilesa; and Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-Ma.

The research-driven innovation would help create new products and services, improve productivity, and contribute to national prosperity.