The Minister of Education, Prof.Tahir Mamman, federal government is exploring funding options for the country’s four inter-university centres with a view to enhancing their training and research capabilities.
Prof Mamman stated this during an interactive session with Chief Executive Officers of the centers on Wednesday.
He said they will open a line of dialogue between the ministry, the centers and the Tertiary Education TrustFund with a view to bringing the inter-varsity centers within the funding envelope of TETFUND.
The Minister also appealed to public and private universities across the country to patronize the centers for their training programmes.
The four inter-varsity centers are the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Nigerian French Language Village and the Nigerian Arabic Language Centre.
Speaking in the same vain, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu promised that he will Interface with his colleagues at the National Assembly to make a case for improved funding of the Nation’s inter-university centers.
He said training and research are key to National development.
Earlier, the Chief Executives of the centers Complained of inadequate funding, low patronage, inability of their academic staff rising to professorial chair due to statutory constraints, as well as poor and delapidated infrastructure.