13 Universities in the country have been presented with grants worth over 172 Million Naira for various professorial endowments and telecom based innovation research efforts by the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC.
Presenting the cheques, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta said the grants were in consonance with the Strategic Vision plan of the NCC to ensure the advancement of emerging and indigenous technologies.
Professor Danbatta said the academia represents the future of the nation’s march towards technological re-engineering; therefore there is the need to ensure synergy with the industry.
He said the global telecom sector was fast evolving and Nigeria is working to enhance its stakes in the industry by venturing into telecom based research and development.
Responding the Vice Chancellor of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto; one of the benefitting institutions, Professor Lawal Bilbis said the grants were a great motivation that would spur the academia to re-energize their drive in innovative ideas and discoveries.