The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved N12 billion to the University of Lagos, University of Abuja and 10 others as the “pioneer Centres of Excellence”.
The amount which according to TETFund, would be shared equally among the universities, is to enable them carry out research and development programmes that would contribute to national growth.
Among the varsities picked are the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Ibadan (UI), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAD), as well as the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Akwa.
Others are the University of Uyo; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; University of Jos (UNIJOS); University of Lagos (UNILAG); Bayero University Kano (BUK); Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University; and Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.
The universities were drawn from first, second, and third-generation universities in the country. Two universities each per geopolitical zones.
Presenting allocation letters and guidelines to Vice-Chancellors of the universities, Executive Secretary of the Fund, Suleiman Bogoro said the Federal Government graciously approved N1billion as a take-off grant for each of the universities, totaling N12billion.
According to Bogoro, the aim of the selection “is to address a specific national development challenge through the preparation of professionals, applied research and associated outreach activities to partners, especially community services”.
The executive secretary said the implications of these are that they would be expected to support national and globally competitive research and development in strategic and applied sciences, including medicine with the aim of generating innovations.
He also said the board would fund the 12 centres with a grant of one billion each for five years to enable them to attain national yearnings.
“Two selected centres in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country were expected to ensure the strengthening and sustainability of the Centres beyond the year 2025. In North-central, the University of Abuja and University of Jos have been selected as Centres of Excellence in Public Governance and Leadership and Food security respectively,” he said.
According to the terms of reference, within a five-year period, the University of Abuja is expected to blaze the trail as centre of excellence in public governance and leadership.
In the same vein, the University of Jos and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University are expected to churn out research in food security, while the University of Maiduguri would focus on arid zone research and development and Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto to concentrate on urology and nephrology.
Bayero University Kano would focus on renewable energy, Micheal Okpara University to focus on root crop research and development, Nnamdi Azikiwe University to dwell on agricultural and engineering translational studies.
Others are the University of Benin, aquaculture, and food technology, University of Uyo, in computational intelligence, University of Ibadan, in multi-disciplinary studies, and the University of Lagos in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.
The 12 pioneer universities are also expected to bring together the complementary resources needed for technical development and industrial application.
“This includes concentrating multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and translational research competence in order to further the development of products, processes, and services, typically by focusing on problems that demand larger efforts than can be provided by smaller projects.
“Bridging the gap between researchers and users, stimulating and strengthening triple-helix relationships. This is in order to enhance scientific research being patronized by industry and in order to make the tertiary educational institutions generally more responsive to industry needs.
“In addition is expertise development and training at doctorate level in areas of industry interest, and the development of knowledge management platforms and innovation hubs, “Bogoro stated in the terms of reference.
