Universities Get N3bn Research Grant From FG

It said the move was part of its effort to encourage research and innovation in the nation’s university education system, adding that the sum will be placed under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) research scheme.

The federal government has said it will give out about N3 billion to the nation’s universities to advance their efforts in sustainable Research and Development (R&D).

According to the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, the fund would be used to support educational institutions and individuals in research and innovation across the country.

Disclosing this yesterday in Abuja, at the opening ceremony of the second national education innovations exhibition, Wike urged the benefiting institutions to ensure that they turn out expected value for money from the fund and a commensurate return on investments through notable achievements in research and innovation.

He also called on the private sector to look inward and work closely with the tertiary educational institutions across the country to promote skills development, research and innovation as well as to assist in commercialising the outcome of such endeavours.

Wike, however, assured all the participants at the exhibition that the present administration is determined to create the enabling environment for student innovators to excel in their respective areas of intellectual interest.

“Although, the educational sector is currently experiencing some critical challenges, what gladdens my heart is the resilience and determination among educational institutions and our young minds to excel against all odds as evident in the number of institutions that are participating in this exhibition and quality of innovations on display.

“Besides, our students continue to excel in international competitions in the areas of science, mathematics and technology. Across our secondary schools, creative works and ambitious strides of some of our children are something to behold,” he said.

Continuing, Wike said: “Only recently, students of the Federal Government College, Okigwe, reportedly designed a rocket that travelled a number of kilometres.”