The
World Bank has designated 10 Nigerian Universities as African Centres of
Excellence for outstanding research programmes in key areas while each of
the centres is to receive a total grant of N12.8billion to run approved
research projects between 2014 and 2017.
The
Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who disclosed this in Jos at the
2014 Annual Conference of West Africa Research Innovations Management
Association (WARIMA), said there is a disconnection between research findings
and their applications by relevant productive entities outside Nigerian
Universities.
According
to him, for any meaningful development or progress, there must be a fundamental
marriage between research institutions and industries, adding that the linkage
in this regard propelled the development and success story of the Asian Tiger.
The
minister, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr Lambert Oparah, said
the administration was determined to encourage research and innovations in
Nigerian tertiary institutions, adding that that World Bank supported science
and technology education and recently granted 11 higher institutions between $4
million and $5.5 million in various research areas.
“The
research areas include food security, vaccine and infectious diseases, renewable
energy, software engineering, environment etc. Through the high impact fund,
well over N109 billion has been provided in phases to support tertiary
institutions in enhancing their capacity as centres of excellence,” he said.
In
his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor
Hayward Babale Mafuyai, appealed to government at all levels to ensure
sustained funding until the physical infrastructure, instructional and research
materials and equipment deficits are eliminated so that tertiary institutions
can deliver on proffering solutions to socio-economic problems confronting the
nation.
Professor
Mafuyai said the University of Jos was recently bestowed with the award of
African Centre of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development, adding
that the grant of USD 8million will be provided for the university as a result
of the award.
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