FG TO ESTABLISH NATIONAL RESEARCH FUND
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Federal Government will create a National Research Development Fund to boost sustainable research in tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this in Abuja at the launch of the African Centres of Excellence (ACE) Alliance. He said President Bola Tinubu approved the fund to expand access to research grants nationwide.
Dr. Alausa noted that the ACE project, started in 2014, has strengthened education and supports the goal of a knowledge-driven economy.
NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, said the new ACE Alliance will promote collaboration, sustain achievements, and turn research into real solutions.
Dr. Joshua Attah, the project coordinator, added that the centres have attracted over $145 million in funding and trained 45,000 students from 15 African countries.
Partners like the World Bank, French Development Bank, and African Association of Universities pledged continued support for the project.