The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated over N23 billion towards research initiatives nationwide, as disclosed by Dr. Hadiza Ismail, Assistant Director of Research and Development (R&D) at TETFund.
Speaking at a validation workshop titled “Strengthening Research and Innovation Funding Agencies in West Africa,” held at TETFund’s headquarters in Abuja, Dr. Ismail reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to fostering research advancements in Nigeria. She emphasized TETFund’s dedication to establishing a Science Granting Council within the country.
Dr. Ismail highlighted TETFund’s ongoing support for research through the National Research Fund and underscored efforts to align research outcomes with industrial applications to drive national development.
“So far, the Fund has invested over N23 billion in approximately 912 sponsored research projects. However, this underscores the importance of our workshop—to enhance the connection between research endeavors and industry, facilitating tangible outcomes for Nigeria’s progress,” she stated.
Professor Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director of the African Technology Policy Studies (ATPS) Network, underscored the workshop’s objective of bolstering national research councils in six West African countries. He expressed concerns over Nigeria’s lack of a recognized national research and innovation funding agency, hindering the nation’s ability to secure foreign grants for research endeavors.
Professor Ozor emphasized the need to establish a functional science and innovation funding agency within Nigeria, advocating for its placement within institutions focused on innovation, such as the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Echoing these sentiments, Professor Peter Onwualu, President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), emphasized the pivotal role of innovation in driving development. He highlighted the workshop’s aim to establish a robust science granting council in Nigeria to support research across various sectors of the economy, from universities and polytechnics to private sector entities and SMEs.
“We anticipate that the outcome of this workshop will pave the way for Nigeria to establish a dynamic science granting council capable of financing research endeavors across all sectors, ultimately facilitating the transformation of research into tangible goods and services,” Professor Onwualu affirmed.
