FG Approves N25bn for Tertiary Institutions Labs, Workshops Upgrade

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

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 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, adding that “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.