From: Ruth Yarnap , Bauchi.
In his efforts to boost academic activities in tertiary institutions in the country, four major projects worth N4.9 billion at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi have been commissioned by the Executive Secretary (TETFUND), Professor Suleiman Bogoro in Bauchi state.
Professor Bogoro disclosed this while addressing the Senate of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi at the Gubi campus, at the instance of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Abdulaziz.
He also charged the varsity lecturers to strengthen research development in Nigerian universities for growth and development of tertiary institutions in the country.
According to him, TETFUND will be supporting Universities to strengthen research documentations in all Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Good academic leadership, he said is the backbone of success in all institutions while poor leadership negatively affects all professional progression and development.
Professor Bogoro said, “TETFUND will fund 12 centres of Excellence for innovative research in the six geopolitical zones with two centres each in each of the zones in the country.The centres will be promoted with special funds allocation in each of the zones.It is disheartening to discover that research are now tailored more on promotions and certifications rather than solving problems.This trend must change by employing quality renewed academic leadership and attitude”
“In the TETFUND budget for the year 2020,we are adding 50 percent of what we disbursed last year for research grants.We are budgeting this year the sum of 7.5 billion naira as against 5 billion naira earmarked for research grants last year”.
He added, “research on problem solving suitable to our Nigerian content and environmental growth are the best option for industrial development.Nigerian Universities are becoming stronger, competing with foreign Universities in terms of quality research harvest and academic excellence.I am very happy to announce to announce to you that ATBU is one of the Universities in the country that is in the forefronts of research” .
In his speech, The Vice Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Professor Muhammad Ahmad Abdulazeez, commended the federal government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for providing the necessary funding to execute these noble projects, stressing that it will go a long way in accelerating development of our University
According to him, the four projects include the Central Laboratory Block and College of Medicine Phase 2 Gubi Campus, Clinical Complex College of Medicine, ATBU Teaching Hospital and Center for Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship Development,Tafawa Balewa.
The VC then suggested that TETFUND should consider maintaining the facilities other than their own in tertiary institutions, saying that the exclusion of the Fund’ road network within the institutions should be revisited.