Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund says about N300 million have been spent on installation of molecular labs in the country.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Professor Suleiman Bogoro stated this in Abuja when he received a contingent of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Senior Executive Course 43, 2021.
Professor Bogoro said TETFund will embark on the establishment of more molecular labs and research on gene sequencing and phytogenic medicine, as well as vaccine research and production.
According to him, under the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari, the fund provided research intervention between N250 to N300 million, to set up, at least, a quarter of the molecular labs established in the country.
“We discovered that those facilities are helpful for both research and clinical purposes,” he said, adding that the facilities will help sustain medical research in the country.
He also disclosed that funds were made available to some medical research institutes and colleges for the purpose of research.
Professor Bogoro also noted that 90 per cent of lecturers in Nigerian universities currently have PhDs, stating that 9 years ago, only 40 per cent of university lecturers in the country had PhDs, and by 2015, over 60 per cent acquired PhDs.
He said more than 80 per cent of libraries in public tertiary institutions are TETFund-provided libraries.
The Executive Secretary commended Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi for its ingenuity in formulating a system of tracking cattles that have been rustled; as well as Redeemers University for its advanced research on gene sequencing; and Covenant University for being ranked among the best universities in the world.
While speaking on NIPSS, Bogoro said since the institute was carefully constituted in 1979, it has remained so with representation from the military, various ministries, and others, who are working on behalf of the country with a high sense of responsibility.
He added that some of the most cerebral academics and administrators in other sectors have served in NIPS, either at the directorate cadre or otherwise.
Earlier, the Acting Director-General of NIPSS, Brig. Gen. Chukwuemeka Udaya, said the institute which is over 43 years has carefully served every government.
Udaya disclosed the issue for study in 2021 is getting things done, adding that this year, seven groups are visiting various institutions including TETFund which has been active in getting things done.
He further disclosed that the essence of visiting was to find out, deepen and further understand how TETFund has been able to get things done.
RN