PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved N5 billion for academic research in the country’s tertiary institutions.

Suleiman Bogoro, Executive Secretary of the  Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) made this known during the inauguration of a national research fund screening and monitoring in Abuja. He said the money was the highest since the establishment of the National Research Fund (NRF) in 2009. 

Bogoro said the provision of the funds to scholars of tertiary institutions would allow them in conducting cutting edge research for the growth and development of the country.

He explained that the funds covered a series of disciplines including science, technology and innovation, as well as humanities and social sciences. As the money would be disbursed to academics by Tetfund through its NRF programme, Bogoro said the committee in charge would scrutinise research proposals’ application before recommending for grants.

He said the members of the committee were made up of seasoned academics of repute ready to devote their time and energy to critically review research proposals competing for the fund.

The Tetfund head urges the members to identify fundable proposals through various mechanisms for sponsorship.

Olufemi Bamiro, chairman of the committee, pledged to commence work in order to allow researchers to access the research funds promptly. He also vouched to provide outcomes that can move Nigeria to the next level of development.

Many scholars in Nigeria have consistently recommended that the government should release funds to tertiary institutions for research purposes. And when released, the funds should be monitored to avoid diversion.

NRF, according to Bogoro in 2015, was introduced to address the paucity of funds for research activities in tertiary institiutions.