The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETfund, Mr. Sonny Echonu has stated that his office has established a National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS & MC) composed of distinguished and senior scholars to screen all Research and Development Concept Notes & Proposals submitted to the fund- with a view to translate research from Nigerian tertiary institutions to innovations, inventions and solutions for practical application and commercialisation.
Recall that the federal government approved N5bn to support impactful research through TETFund’s National Research Fund.
The Executive Secretary said the committee will monitor the implementation of the research projects and provide comprehensive reports to TETFund on their outcomes and impacts.
He added that the fund has also upscaled its efforts at supporting other critical research and development initiatives aimed at facilitating the uptake of various research output for the benefit of society.
According to him, “These initiatives include the Research for Impact (R4i) Programme, the TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR) and the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR) programme with the ultimate objective to translate research from Nigerian Tertiary institutions to innovations, inventions and solutions for practical application and commercialisation.”
While declaring the maiden TETFund National Research Fair/Exhibition open on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa said the fair would be sustained as an annual national effort that will be used in sensitising Nigerians, particularly the youths and will take advantage of the outcomes to participate in economic development.
The Minister disclosed that the federal government supported initiative because its has the potency to create jobs, generate wealth and ultimately to strengthen the economy.
He said it is research and innovation systems such as this that help in the categorisation of countries into the first, second and third world countries specifications while the research and innovation system is the cardinal factor in determining the quality of life of a people and the overall status of their nation.
According to him, “The Research Fair is specially aligned to Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda on domesticating the local research results for the composite objective of creating jobs, generation of wealth and the ultimate strengthening of the economy.
“This Research Fair will focus on fostering synergy among research and technology agencies to accelerate the deployment of their efforts for nation-building.”
