That tertiary institutions play vital roles in driving research and innovation and contribute significantly to national development cannot be overemphasised.
Industry experts have highlighted the impact of research on a nation to include economic growth, solving societal problems, knowledge generation, human capital development, policy formulation, collaboration and partnerships. Others are, innovation and entrepreneurship, improved quality of life, enhancing the nation’s reputation and global competitiveness.
Research and innovation are also instrumental to tackling global issues such as climate change, poverty and social inequality.
These points were reinforced by the Federal Government at the inauguration of the reconstituted TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS&MC) and the Technical Advisory Group (TAG). For almost two years, Sonny Echono-led Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) have invested time and resources on research and development.
The TETFund Executive Secretary believed so much in the ability of the nation’s tertiary institutions to produce graduates that can compete favourably with their counterparts across the world, and one of the steps towards that direction was to engage in research in critical areas such as science and technology. Since then, he has not relented in his commitment towards the set goals.
Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, who inaugurated the committees however expressed concern over the quality of some academic publications churned out from the nation’s tertiary institutions considering that over N24billion have been spent on 912 research grants to researchers from public tertiary institutions since the inception of the National Research Fund intervention in 2011.
Admitting that dependence on books published outside the country has attendant consequences on foreign exchange, the Minister harped on the need to nurture culture of quality authorship as the production of indigenous books will not only ensure availability of relevant books in diverse subject areas that take cognizance of our local environment and sensitivities but also safeguard national pride and reduce the demand for foreign textbooks.
Prof Mamman applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for graciously approving the sum of N5 billion for NRF and N8 billion for provision of Central Multipurpose Laboratories in some universities across the country under the 2024 intervention budget.
This, he noted, was a strong demonstration of Mr. President’s commitment to the promotion of research activities in tertiary institutions to support national development.
He said: “Besides, TETFund has continued to provide sponsorship for Institution-Based Research (IBR) to facilitate revival of quality research among lecturers in tertiary institutions and assist them to build capacity for higher research. To strengthen this intervention and deepen its impact, I have approved an upward review of the funding ceiling per IBR project from N2million to N5million for science-based research and N4million for humanities and social science research in line with current realities.
“In response to this challenge, TETFund initiated the Higher Education Book Development Project for intervention in the three key areas of publication of academic books and the conversion of high-quality theses into books; support for Professional Association Journals and establishment as well as sustainability of Academic Publishing Centres (APCs). The TAG is supporting the Fund for effective implementation of the intervention.
“I charge the leaderships and members of the two Committees to sustain and enhance the credibility of the process to guarantee the integrity of the intervention programmes. Kindly bear in mind that we would not hesitate to delist members found wanting in any way likely to bring the integrity of the Committees into question.”
The 55-member reconstituted TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee has Prof. Hayward Mafuyai as Chairman, while the 48-member reconstituted Technical Advisory Group is superintended by Prof. Albert Abegunde.
The membership of the two committees were drawn from Nigerian tertiary education institutions (Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education), representatives of the academic staff unions of the institutions, representatives of relevant regulatory agencies (National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
The Terms of Reference for the NRF panel are to pre-qualify applications for research grants from academics in beneficiary institutions to ensure that they are in compliance with the approved templates for accessing the TETFund NRF Grant; categorize pre-qualified research proposals into streams and disciplines to aid the appointment of Assessors/Reviewers; recommend pre-qualified and categorized proposals; serve as members of the NRF Proposal Defence Panel; monitor and report progress of ongoing research work and carry out any other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Fund.
On the other hand, the TAG was charged with screening proposals on Manuscripts for Development into Academic Textbooks and advising TETFund on fundable Manuscripts; screening and advising TETFund on submission from professional associations to support production of journals; advise the Fund on how to enhance and improve the production of quality academic books, journals and other academic learning materials as well as counsel the Fund on development and sustainability of Academic Publishing Centres (APC).
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, stated that the two panels were set up to drive the process of implementing the National Research Fund and facilitate effective implementation of the Higher Education Book Development Fund, respectively.
He expressed optimism that the committees “will contribute immensely to improving the standing of public higher educational institutions and the realization of the goals of such institutions.”
