2 weeks Ago By Guardian Nigeria
As the world grapples with complex challenges such as climate change, healthcare disparities and technological disruption, the importance of Research and Development (R&D) in tertiary education cannot be overstated. This hinges on the understanding that universities and colleges of education are incubators of research and innovations, and embody the capacity to foster the next generations of thinkers, makers and problem-solvers. However, inadequate funding has been a threat to the progress of research and development in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, especially the government-owned ones due to the poor percentage of the annual budget allocated to the sector.
Unfortunately, the country has been losing out on some of the impacts of research and development on the nation, which include the ability to drive economic growth and competitiveness; addressing societal challenges and improving quality of life; cultivating entrepreneurial spirit and job creation; enhancing academic excellence and global reputation as well as the ability to prepare students for the workforce of the future. Worried by this challenge, the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, prioritised research and development on assumption of office.
He was very emphatic on the need to prepare Nigerian graduates to meet the development challenges of the country. Hence, he engaged in collaborations that promote research and innovations among tertiary institutions. He has also harped on the need for improved funding for this purpose.
Recently, the National Assembly openly threw its weight behind increased funding for higher education and innovative research, describing research and innovations as key to the socio-economic development of the country. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, raised the issue while speaking at the 2024 TETFund Board of Trustees Retreat held recently in Lagos. While conveying the goodwill of the National Assembly to TETFund’s Board of Trustees, he noted the importance and timeliness of holding the retreat with critical stakeholders such as the National Assembly in participation.
He was excited that such a synergy was happening between the Fund, its board and the legislators. He said: “We are having this retreat for the first time under the Executive Secretary of TETFund, the leadership of the Board of Trustees and members of the National Assembly. I think it is timely and very important.
” Speaking on the imperative of education to a people, Dandutse described education as key to the success of every country in the world, stressing that no amount of funds invested in education is a waste. Considering the Nigerian population, the lawmaker maintained that the country needed to invest more in education. “And we are glad that the Executive Secretary of TETFund has started to lay a good foundation by involving critical stakeholders such as the National Assembly and leadership of the regulatory bodies.
“If you look at Britain, Germany and most of the developed countries of the world, they started with education. They fund research, innovation and inventions in most of their key areas such as education, agriculture, science and technology. So, I think it is important to look forward to the value addition of funds available and also look forward to an increase in terms of funding education,” he said.
On her part, the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on TETFund, Princess Miriam Onuoha, commended Echono for his efforts at repositioning the Fund and organising the retreat. While equally emphasising the importance of education to the economic development of a nation, she pledged the committee’s continued support for the Fund’s activities and programmes. “Pursuant to the mandate of the committee, I would like to restate that our committee remains resolute in our conviction that once we get the education of our people right, we will definitely get our development right; and indeed, place our country back on the right trajectory.
“We have the strong belief that robust deliberation on the theme of this retreat by the stakeholders gathered here today will further distill the ‘Renewed Hope’ deliverables to a more detailed implementation with turnaround strategies that will not only be measurable but capable of providing results that will also be visible to the Nigerian public,” she said. Just recently, the United Nations (UN) advised Nigeria to increase its current seven per cent budget for education to 20 per cent with clear accountabilities on delivery. The world body had insisted that unless Nigeria acted fast on the issue, the country might not achieve the global agenda for universal inclusive and equitable basic education for all school-age children by 2030.
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