The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved N6.3 billion for 217 research proposals recommended by the National Research Fund (NRF).
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, disclosed this in Abuja at the inauguration of the National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS&MC) and Technical Advisory Group (TAG).
Bogoro said the money was approved under the 2020 grant cycle, adding that it almost equalled the N6.7 billion that was disbursed for 240 research grants between 2012 to 2019.
“Also in 2020, a key development in the NRF grant administration was the introduction of an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) to automate the hitherto manual processes associated with receiving and processing of Concept Notes and Research Proposals, he said
“This was done with a view to entrench and sustain the culture of efficiency and effectiveness in the process of awarding the NRF Grant and in line with global best practices.”
Bogoro said the TETFund National Research Fund intervention line was introduced in 2009 as a Special Intervention Programme aimed at promoting the conduct of applied research and innovation by academics in public tertiary educational institutions and research institutes.
He said the NRF intervention is primarily targeted at researchers in public tertiary education institutions, adding that private universities could also take advantage of the fund by teaming up with eligible beneficiary institutions to compete for research grants.
Bogoro charged members of the committee to live above board, warning that TETFund’s would not hesitate to wield the big stick against erring members as two members were fired from the previous committee for compromising standard.
