By Temi Ohakwe, Abuja
…………..to receive N1b grants for take-off
Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has selected university of Lagos, University of Abuja and ten other Nigerian universities as the pioneer Centres of Excellence to define the trajectory for the transformation of tertiary institutions.
The Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, said at the inauguration of the twelve maiden Centres of excellence (TCoEs) that the objective was to address a specific national development challenge through preparation of professionals, applied research and associated outreach activities to partners, especially community services.
Bogoro also disclosed that the board would fund the twelve Centres with a grant of one billion (N1billion) each for five years to enable them attains national aspirations.
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, University of Abuja and University of Jos have been selected as Centres of Excellence in Public Governance and Leadership and Food security respectively.
North east has Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, TETFind Centre of Excellence in food security and University of Maiduguri, Centre of Excellence in Arid Zone Research and Development while North west has Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Centre of Excellence in Urology and Nephrology and Bayero University, Kano, in Renewable Energy.
Others are, south east; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Root Crop Research, Development and Agriculture Transitional Studies respectively.
More so, in south-south, university of Benin and university of Uyo got Centres of Excellence in Aquaculture and Food Technology and Computational Intelligence and Multi-Disciplinary Studies respectively, while the south west has university of Ibadan and University of Lagos in Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management.
He said, “The conceptual framework for Centres of Excellence is unlikely to be unfamiliar, alien or even novel to most of you here. Nevertheless, a Strategic Framework and Establishment Guidelines for TETFund Centres of Excellence, as approved by the TETFund Board of Trustees will be made available to all of you.
“Each selected institution is expected to implement its own approved TCOE, with the objective to address a specific national development challenge through preparation of professionals, applied research and associated outreach activities to partner, especially community services.
Responding on behalf of Vice Chancellors of the beneficiary universities, Prof. Lilian Salami, Vice Chancellor, University of Benin promised to live to expectations in delivering the task accorded to them.
