The Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (5GC) has announce that
the Nigeria Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has joined the initiative to advance research excellence in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria is already a major producer of research in Africa, thougha recent study suggests that it
has the clear potential to do more, given the number of its universities put at (196), think-tanks and research professionals.

According to the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trustfund, TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro, .
National growth and competitiveness (in the context of globalized economy) depends very
much on continuous technological improvement and innovation driven by a well-organized vibrant Research and Development System.

“We are confident that our admission into SGCl will open a new window of opportunities that will provide platforms that can serve as a fulcrum in achieving our goals of Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge economy in the 21
century. We are assured of quality partnerships and collaborations on the continent of Africa
and beyond”.

Starting in 2015, the Science Granting Councils Initiative has been jointly funded by the United
Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO, Canada’s International
Development Research Centre (IDRC), South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), the
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SidA) and the Geman Research
Foundation (DFG).

The initiative aims to strengthen the capacities of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in sub-Saharan Africa in order to support research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to economic and social development.

Through this engagement with TETFund, facilitated by FCDO’s West Africa Research and
Innovation Hub, Nigeria has become the 16th country in SGCL to join other SGCs
through the SGCI Annual Forum, bilateral exchange visits and other activities to share lessons in
managing research funds for maximum impact and to identify areas for future collaboration
such as joint research calls, as resources become available.

According to Dr. Dominique Charron, Vice-President, Programs and Partnership Branch at
Canada’s International Development Research Centre, “with the largest population and
economy in Africa, Nigeria’s participation expands the potential for the Science Granting
Councils Initiative to achieve its goals of strengthening science systems and building alliances
between science granting councils in multiple regions across the subcontinent and
internationally.”

Dr Aldo Stroebel, Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships at the National Research
Foundation-South Afria and SGCI Executive Committee Member added It is with great pleasure to welcome the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) of Nigeria to the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI).

The NRF looks forward to working closely with the TETFund in advancing the Science, Technology and Innovation agenda in Africa.”

Speaking on FCDO’s involvement and the benefit to Nigeria, the British High Commissioner to
Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing CB said:
“Nigeria’s TETFund admission to the Science Granting Councils Initiative is a positive development
that will better position Nigeria to maximise the commissioning and use of research for
development, in line with critical national social and economic priorities.

The UK recognises the
importance of science to address global challenges, we are pleased to have supported the
TETFUND to join the SGCI and will continue to work in partnership with them and other ministries,
departments and agencies in Nigeria to better realise the benefits of science and research.