The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) says it is disbursing N292.66 billion for project intervention to some selected public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof Suleiman Bogoro said the intervention, which has been approved by the federal government, would be spread to higher education institutions in each of the six geo-political zones.
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According to the 2021 disbursement plans, N906 million will be given to one university from each of the six geo-political zones while N628 million will go to one polytechnic and one college of education.
Bogoro stated this on Tuesday while welcoming all heads of beneficiary institutions to a one-day stakeholders’ briefing in Abuja.
He said: “I have signed the letters of allocation for the research grants that we are issuing out, 217. This is the highest research grant ever. It has never gone beyond 200.”
Bogoro also explained that the responsibility of completing the National Library Project in Abuja has been bestowed on TETFund as it represents an important national asset that shouldn’t be ignored on account of funding challenges.
Bogoro also stressed the importance of research to national development, saying the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been consistent in approving funds to see that academics churn out quality research that would address emerging challenges bedevilling the country.
He said this accounted for the setting up of the National Research Foundation, which has consistently increased from N3 billion to N8.5 billion in recent times.
Professor Bogoro, who expressed delight that Nigeria is moving closer to an emergence of a National Research and Development Foundation, urged academics in the country to turn around the fortunes of the country through cutting-edge research.
He further said N5 billion each was approved for University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria for infrastructural projects’ development; N1 billion for the fencing of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and N1 billion for Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo.
