BUA Group has pledged the donation of $100m annually to boost research in tertiary institutions across the country.
The president of the group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu made the pledge in Abuja during the 2021 Roundtable for the Development of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurum (FUPRE), on Tuesday.
He said it is meant to advance the technology and sustainable development of education in the country.
Represented by Dr. Aliyu Hong, Director of Government Relations of the company, Rabiu said Nigeria’s university education required a face lift, hence the need for adequate funding to pride the institutions as effective in the committee of nations.
Also, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, called for a more robust partnership between the private and public sector to fund tertiary education.
Gambari, represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Timipre Sylva, charged institutions to think outside the box to expand innovation for educational advancement.
“We need to start developing technologies that are acknowledged globally to solve problems which is another phase in the educational development of Nigeria.”
“We need to actually begin to research into our problems and find solutions, the educational system need to lead in the push.
“There is now need for collaboration between academic and industry especially in our oil industry. We have been producing oil in the late 50’s which means our territory is a mature one . We need to begin to develop technology in the oil and gas sector,” he said.
Also, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), Alhaji Kashim Imam, pledged TETfund continued support for FUPRE as well as other institutions to enhance research development.
Imam said TETFund, in its drive to promote research, gave the university N3bn in support of infrastructure, scholarships, research and other need of the institution.
“We have completed projects across our universities in excess of 10,000 within 10 years. For this year, our budget is N300 billion fully funded.”
“We are given each university the sum of N900m, the polytechnics N800m and the colleges of education N700m.
“There are 226 institutions- Federal and states that are funded by TETFund. For the year 2020, TETFund gave FUPRE N3bn in support of one infrastructure scholarship research and all the various need,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effrun (FUPRE), Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, urged the Federal Government to build partnership with reputable public spirited individuals, corporate bodies, national and multi-national organizations to widen sources of funding for education nationwide.
He insisted that only partnership will enable the nation attain its projected educational benchmarks.
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