SGCI Awards $250,000 Grant to Nigerian Research Teams

SGCIAfrica on X ( image credit: Internet)

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has recently granted $250,000 to four innovative research teams in Nigeria.

This grant stems from the successful implementation of the Research for Impact Initiative (R41) through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with Innov8 Technology Hub as the technical partner.

Speaking on Monday in Abuja, the director of research and development at TETFund, Dr. Saliba Girei Bakare,  emphasised the transformative potential of this collaboration, stating, “The impact of this collaboration is poised to be transformative.”

The grant aims to support Nigerian research teams working on projects with the capacity to drive significant change.

Dr. Bakare highlighted initiatives such as advancements in garri processing and renewable energy, among others.

He stressed the importance of bridging the gap between research and practical application, with a focus on commercialization.

“The essence is to help them transform their research findings into commercializable goods and services in this country,” Dr. Bakare explained.

A key aspect of the grant is assisting research teams in developing their innovations into market-ready prototypes.

Dr. Bakare noted, “Four teams are going to use this money to develop their research into prototypes and pitch them with industries so that there will be take-off of the product coming out from the research.”.

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President Tinubu Allocates ₦13B for Research, Lab Upgrades

Nigerian president,  Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a total of ₦13 billion for the National Research Fund (NRF) and the provision of Central Multipurpose Laboratories in select universities nationwide.

Education Minister, Professor Tahir Mamman, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, expressed gratitude for this significant investment, stating, “President Tinubu’s approval of ₦5 billion for NRF and ₦8 billion for Central Multipurpose Laboratories underscores his commitment to advancing research for national development.”

Speaking during the inauguration of key committees, the Minister emphasised the importance of enhancing research capacity across various fields.

He highlighted the need to elevate academic publications in Nigeria and reduce reliance on foreign materials through initiatives like the Higher Education Book Development Project.

The Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Arc Sonny Echono,  praised the expertise of the committees in driving the implementation of the National Research Fund.

He noted, “The NRF has awarded 912 research grants totaling ₦24,021,679,195.88 since its inception in 2009, promoting applied research and innovation in public tertiary institutions.”

The committees were urged to uphold credibility and maintain high standards in their roles to advance research and book publication for national development.

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Zamfara Governor Seeks FG Support for Abandoned University Projects

His Excellency Governor Lawal , Governor of Zamfara state

The Zamfara State Government has reached out to the federal government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to seek assistance in completing several abandoned projects at the State University.

Governor Dauda Lawal emphasized the importance of these projects in expanding access to university education in the state during a visit to the TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono in Abuja on Thursday.

Governor Lawal acknowledged the financial challenges facing Zamfara State and highlighted the state of emergency declared in the education sector, stressing the need for extensive funding support. Stating, “Remember, sometimes in November, we declared emergency in education and that is why I’m here to continue to follow up wherever we can get help, so that things will be better in Zamfara.”

He expressed gratitude to TETFund while also appealing for additional intervention to improve the educational landscape in Zamfara.

In response to the security challenges plaguing the state, Governor Lawal assured that the government is actively addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, Sonny Echono reassured the Governor of TETFund’s commitment to supporting education in Zamfara despite the security concerns.

Echono underscored TETFund’s dedication to ensuring quality education access for students nationwide.

He acknowledged the Governor’s specific requests to complete ongoing projects at state institutions, citing funding challenges as a hindrance to their progress.

The TETFund boss explained that Governor Lawal proposed completing existing projects rather than initiating new ones to maximize benefits for the state.

He noted the complexities involved in taking over abandoned projects initiated by previous administrations, emphasizing the need to differentiate between TETFund projects and state-led initiatives.

While acknowledging the challenges, Echono affirmed TETFund’s willingness to collaborate with Zamfara State to address the educational infrastructure needs and enhance learning opportunities for students in the region.

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High Exchange Rate Reduces Scholars Trained – FG

Hon Mariam Onuoha exchanging document with ES, TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono in Abuja

The Federal Government has expressed concern over the impact of the high exchange rate on the number of scholars trained by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Arc. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, made this lamentation during an oversight visit to the Fund by the House of Representatives Committee on TETFund and other Services in Abuja.

Echono revealed that the Fund has spent N3.8 billion on stranded Nigerian scholars abroad in recent years.

He explained that the increase in the exchange rate had caused challenges for scholars studying abroad. Stating, “We identify a cut-off point for those who will be eligible for the scholarship,” he said. However, due to delays in payment caused by the high exchange rate, many scholars from various countries, including the UK and Malaysia, cried out for assistance.

Echono praised the positive response from relevant authorities, including the President, for providing a bailout or assistance to address the issue.

In addition to the exchange rate challenges, Echono highlighted another issue affecting the disbursement of funds to scholars. Stating that in the past, funds were sent directly to institutions, who were then responsible for redistributing the money to students. However, this process faced delays and inefficiencies.

“To address this, TETFund now pays the institutions directly, with funds transferred in bulk from the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The Chairman of the oversight committee, Hon Mariam Onuoha, expressed concern over the high rate of unaccessed funds by beneficiary institutions.

She emphasized the need for effective implementation of legislation to ensure that interventions reach the intended recipients.

Despite the challenges faced, Echono highlighted some positive developments. He noted that Nigeria has improved its standing in research grants within Africa, moving from the 9th to the 7th position.

He also highlighted the rise in education tax collection, which increased from N257 billion in 2020 to N725 billion in 2023.

Gom Mirian- Report