Abuja – Hajia Hindatu Abdullahi, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, has advocated for the establishment of a National Research and Development Foundation (R&D).
Abdullahi made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a two-day stakeholders’ interactive meeting on research and development.
The theme of the meeting was ”Institutionalisation of Research and Development in Tertiary Institutions as a Launch Pad for Nigeria’s Technological Development”.
She said that such a body would enhance research through donation of 0.5 per cent of the turnover by all registered entities.
Abdullahi said the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) had in 2014, created the R&D Department to promote research and development and enhance the global ranking of Nigerian universities.
“In direct response to the availability of the fund, Nigerian academics have taken a cue and started engaging in serious research work.
“At the last call for submission of proposals, more than 800 proposals were received from researchers across the country.
`This shows that Nigerian researchers are ready to develop the country through science and technology but the major challenge will be funding to carry out intensive and result-oriented research.
“In the light of this, the ministry, through TETFund, advocates for establishment by law, of a National Research Foundation and mandatory commitment of about 0.5 per cent of the turnover of all registered entities for the purpose of research and development.’’
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Abdullahi urged the managers of tertiary institutions and academics to drive the advocacy for the establishment of such foundation to fast track national development.
In his presentation, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, said it had become imperative to set up such foundation where both profit and non-profit making outfits would contribute to research.
He said that such foundations had been in existence in advanced countries for a long time.
”The establishment of R&D foundation in Nigeria has become imperative; TETFund will engage stakeholders on an advocacy drive to this effect.
”Inadequate funding will be addressed by a National R&D Foundation; it has been established by competitive nations.
”There should be an enabling law, through the National Assembly, to compel profit and non-profit making establishments to donate 0.5 per cent of their earnings to the foundation.”
He said that a major weakness of the Nigerian university had been the emphasis on teaching instead of research.
Bogoro said the fund would take some of its beneficiaries to Ohio, U.S. for a capacity building training on writing quality research proposals.
He also stressed the need to create relevant technology and solve societal needs. (NAN)