The Tertiary Education Trustfund (TETfund) says Educational Institutions, non-state entities and other private research institutes are to benefit from the National Research Fund (NRF) Grant which has been increased to N7.5 billion in 2020 from the N5 billion approved in 2019.

The Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trustfund TETfund Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro said this had become neccessary following the increase in the grant which prompted the Fund to make amendments to accommodate them.

Bogoro stated this during the inauguration of an Implementation Committee on the collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) which is aimed at deepening research activities in the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar along with the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro performed the inauguration ceremony at the Fund’s Headquarters in Abuja over the weekend.

According to a statement made available to newsmen and signed by the Director, Public Affairs, TETFund Mrs. Ngoba Priye Briggs, the 10-man committee which comprises officials from both the Ministry and TETFund was inaugurated as a follow-up to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between both parties in January 2020 to boost Research and Development (R&D) for the technological and overall economic development of the country.

Speaking during the inauguration, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar commended the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro and his team for their support and commitment to the collaboration.

Dr. Umar stated that the partnership between the Ministry and TETFund is geared towards driving the Nigerian economy through Science and Technology with adequate funding as no country in the world can thrive without Science and Technology.

The Permanent Secretary lamented that Nigeria used to be ahead of several countries such as India and South Korea in terms of technology, but that most of them have overtaken the country.

He therefore, expressed confidence that the collaboration would foster the relationship between TETFund and research institutes to help accelerate the country’s technological and economic development.

Membership of the Committee include the Director, R&D/Centres of Excellence of TETFund, Dr. Salihu Girei Bakari and Director, Planning, Research and Policy, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Ken Onwumbiko who will serve as Co-chairs.

Others are Director, Renewable and Conventional Technology, Isa Buba; Special Adviser to the Permanent Secretary, Jamil Shehu Narwarai; Director, Science and Technology Promotion, Shu’aibu Alhaji Umaru and Director, Legal Services, Mrs Yvonne Odu-Thomas, all from the Ministry.

Others from TETFund are Ag. Director, Education Support Services, Mr. Kolapo Okunlola; Ag. Director ICT, Mr. Joseph Odo; Head, Academic Staff Training and Development, Mohammed Sani Suleiman and Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary on R&D Matters, Dr. Mustapha Popoola.