As Nigeria faces pressing challenges, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is calling for a new focus in academic research, one that prioritises solving local problems.
TETFund is championing a transformative approach to academic research, urging scholars to direct their efforts towards addressing the specific challenges faced by local communities.
The strategic shift aims to harness the power of research to drive meaningful, on-the-ground solutions that resonate with the needs of the region.
Speaking recently while delivering the keynote address at the 2024 Research and Innovation Fair of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, called on academics in the country to focus on researches that would solve local problems.
Echono, who spoke on the theme: “The Rise of Research in Driving Sustainable Development,” urged the government to invest more in research, saying it is the way to the future of the country.
The executive secretary who was represented by a former OAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Faborode, said, “The academics need to work more on products and policies that can impact our lives. Research by itself is not enough. It is when research becomes innovation and products that it can impact the nation.
“Our research must be geared towards solving our local problems in a way that will be compatible with international expectations in terms of quality and meeting the global standard and we must be committed to this.”
Echono further called on the government to prioritise investment in research and harness the potential of the youth.
He said, “Research is the only way for us to be able to make progress in this country, not food palliative or protest. Let us harness the huge potential and energy of the youths. Our youths should not use their knowledge for Internet fraud.
“The research fair is a good step because the concern is why our research has not been going out to impact society for sustainable development.
“We are not investing enough in research in Nigeria because we don’t seem to appreciate the value of research. We just believe things happen but development doesn’t happen like that. What we are enjoying today is a product of one research or the other.
“The government must realise that these things have to be funded. If you don’t fund research, you cannot get the products of research and you cannot continue to depend on other countries, otherwise, we will continue to be an import-oriented country and a consumer of innovation and technology and no country can move forward with that.”
In his goodwill message, the Osun State Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, said the state government would leverage research to boost food security in the state.
LEADERSHIP reports that TETFund has been actively promoting local research in several ways.
TETFund provides financial support specifically for research projects that address local and regional challenges. This funding helps ensure that academic research is relevant to the immediate needs of communities.
The Fund also offers grants and awards for research initiatives that focus on solving local problems, encouraging institutions to align their research efforts with regional development goals.
Similarly, TETFund fosters partnerships between tertiary institutions and local businesses or government agencies to facilitate research that has direct community impact and help researchers develop skills and methodologies that are geared towards local problem-solving.
That’s notwithstanding, TETFund emphasises the importance of applied research, encouraging projects that not only contribute to academic knowledge but also offer practical solutions to local issues and closely monitors and evaluates the outcomes of funded research projects to ensure they effectively address local problems and achieve tangible benefits for communities, amongst others.
Since taking up the affairs at TETFund, Echono has continuously advocated for the promotion of local research and innovation within Nigerian tertiary institutions.
His efforts have typically focused on improving the quality of education, supporting research activities, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of higher education institutions in Nigeria.
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