The Federal Government has approved the sum of N25 billion to upgrade laboratories and workshops in public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education (Technical).
The Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund,
Sonny Echono, made this known during the inauguration of a 55-member committee
of TETFund National Research Fund and Screening on Tuesday in Abuja.
The event also featured the inauguration of 48 committee
members of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the Fund.
Echono said the NRF Screening and Monitoring Committee
charged with implementing and administering the intervention was set up by the
Board of Trustees of the Fund.
He said in 2020, the Committee carried out a review of the
three thematic areas of the NRF research spectrum and incorporated emerging
issues of national developmental challenges requiring innovative solutions.
He said, “We undertook an assessment of what the
requirements are to meet the change.
“And one of the things we discovered was that we have been
addressing the issue around accessing and providing infrastructure to
facilitate admissions of Nigerians who undertake programmes in our tertiary
institutions.
“Over time, due to our poor maintenance culture, we tend to
neglect the issue of quality in terms of the equipment that we have in our
laboratories, whether they are functional in terms of the workshop.”
Echono revealed further that another N5 billion was also
approved for skills-related equipment in the polytechnics.
He called on the Polytechnics to identify between three and
five skills areas and use the opportunity to mop up Nigerians from the streets
Speaking on the benefits, he said through the teaching of
basic skills, people would be able to fend for themselves and as well
contribute to the economy.
Earlier, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman while
inaugurating the committees, urged the academia to get involved in contributing
to the development of the nation through their cutting-edge research.
Mamman said there had been a major shift by the present
government to ensure tertiary institutions played their role in research,
innovation and teaching.
“Universities and scholars have so much to do to make sure
their research contributes to their personal growth and growth of the nation.
He reiterated the commitment of the administration to
reskilling the education sector from primary to tertiary institutions in order
to equip the youths with the required skills. NAN