TETFund Moves to Boost Research Capacity of Poly Lecturers

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja 

No fewer than 18 polytechnic lecturers nationwide have successfully completed a training programme on research for impact initiative put in place by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). 

Speaking at the training programme in Abuja, weekend, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono said the initiative organised in collaboration with Innov8 Hub is aimed at promoting innovation and viable research in higher education institutions. 

Echono said Nigeria could not afford to be left behind in technological development, saying technological development holds the massive key to overcoming challenges bedeviling the country. 

TETFund’s executive secretary said the world has witnessed tremendous transformation with technology at the center stage, transforming lives, creating jobs and impacting nations.

“Most great nations that have developed were able to attain such heights through education, technological evolution as well as revolution, which was all steeped in insatiable quest for knowledge. 

“This thirst for better ways of doing things has resulted in innovations which brought about the development of new technologies, new products, transformations in the telecommunication industry and new ways of existence. 

” The emergence of the digital age’ has presented the world with no alternative than to adapt to the emerging realities. Consequently, nations and citizens are compelled to either develop, or remain as second-class nations that would continuously depend on and serve other nations that have advanced through learning and impactful research.”

While appreciating Innov8 Hub for its willingness to partner with TETFund to propagate and advance an innovation ecosystem in Nigerian tertiary education sphere, Echono pledged the commitment of the agency to continue to invest in research as the foundation for Nigeria’s emergence as a knowledge-based economy. 

“At TETFund, we established a Research and Development/ Centres of Excellence Department to drive the institutionalization of research and development in public tertiary institutions, enhance research capacity, support research-industry, among others.

“The research for impact workshop is one of the programmes aimed at supporting market driven research for national development…. 

“At this point, it is important to use this opportunity to restate TETFund’s commitment to promote the commercialisation of viable R&D results and patents. This should serve as further incentive to the Teams to take their prototype to the next phase,” he said.

Echono expressed hope that the two weeks of intense research activities undergone by the 18 lecturers would stimulate knowledge sharing, collaboration, growth and excellence among participants and their various colleagues. 

On his part, the Executive Secretary of National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Bugaje, challenged the participants to work as team and also shared knowledge gained with other lecturers in their various institutions.

 Bugaje commended TETFund for R4i initiative, describing it as the most important thing that had ever happened in Nigerian polytechnics in the area of research and innovation promotion. 

“I have also been told that what we have here in Innov8 Hub, will be replicated in selected polytechnics across the country. This is the best way to go,” Bugaje said.