The Director, Centre for Undergraduate Research (CUR) University of Abuja, Dr Taibat Adebukola Atoyebi, says the university has spent over N10 million as research grants for undergraduate students in three years.
Dr Taibat, who made this known at the university’s third undergraduate research day, which was held yesterday, said the university’s aims to key into the quadruple helix model—academics, government, industry and society—to foster growth in our community by investing in undergraduate students.
She said, “10 students got N3,772, 000 at the third edition. This is the first time we are having 10 researchers present their proposals, and we have almost 50 people who indicated interest before we arrived at 10. Over N10,000,000 million for research grant given to undergraduate students.”
“We are calling on the private sector to come into our activities so that they can help promote our research. This result will also be published in journals,” she said, adding that students are more innovative as undergraduates.
The dean, School of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Abuja, Professor Ukertor Gabriel Moti, who was the guest speaker, urged students to be creative and innovative in their research so as to enhance Nigeria’s economic development.
While delivering a paper themed, ‘Research and mentorship: A pathway to economic growth’, he urged students to find viable solutions to the nation’s predicament.
He said creativity and innovation are key to any research, adding that students should be able to bring new solutions or methods of doing things to society through their research.
“Your research must be able to be used by industries, businesses where it can lead to a change of attitude; so those in the social sciences,” he said.
He said any student researcher willing to make an impact should be able to discuss and present their research findings.
“Ensure you discuss your research findings, put them on the Web, let others critique them, share them with other stakeholders, and exhibit them everywhere you find opportunities. Don’t be ashamed whenever you’re being critiqued, it enhances your knowledge,” he said. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rasheed Na-Allah, who was represented by the chairman of the university’s research council, Prof. Baba Yusuf Abubakar, said the aim of the programme was to expose the students to research and development early.
Three students presented their findings, including Ochem Uzochukwu Michael, who researched depression and academic performance.
