ABUJA — Nigeria takes a fresh step toward strengthening research capacity as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund inaugurates a seven-member advisory committee to guide the establishment and effective use of multipurpose laboratories across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
TETFund Executive Secretary Sonny Echono inaugurates the panel in Abuja, tasking members with delivering strategic recommendations within one month. The committee is chaired by Chris Maiyaki, a former acting head of the National Universities Commission.
Echono says the initiative aligns with the administration’s drive to entrench a strong research culture supported by modern infrastructure capable of repositioning Nigeria from a consumption-based economy to a globally competitive producer of knowledge and innovation.
“This is about building the research backbone that allows our institutions not only to produce knowledge, but to compete with their peers globally,” he says.
The committee is mandated to review and update earlier equipment recommendations for the laboratories, taking into account rapid technological change and the growing risk of obsolescence. It is also expected to advise on design standards, equipment specifications, deployment strategies and sustainable management frameworks.
“We are living in times of rapid obsolescence. Technology is highly disruptive, and constant review is no longer optional,” Echono says.
He adds that the laboratories will be equipped with alternative power solutions to ensure uninterrupted, round-the-clock research activities, noting that sustainable economic growth depends on innovative, solution-driven research backed by reliable infrastructure.
The panel will also propose models for industry collaboration, phased procurement of cost-effective equipment and revenue generation to guarantee long-term sustainability.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Maiyaki thanks TETFund for the confidence reposed in its members and pledges timely delivery.
“These high-tech, centralised laboratories present game-changing opportunities to bridge the gap between theory and practice,” he says, adding that members have familiarised themselves with their terms of reference and are ready to meet expectations.
Plateau News Online 