BEVERLY HILLS, (THEWILL) – The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund has said that the proposed National Research and Development (R&D) Foundation would commence operation within the next nine months.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro made this known during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Naval of Staff, Vice Admiral, Ibok Ekwe Ibas.
Bogoro however sought the support of the Nigerian Navy towards the takeoff of the foundation. “We are requesting that you support the case for the emergence of the R & D Foundation. The most competitive technologies and economies in the world have something similar to this.
In Nigeria we don’t have it, the National R&D Foundation will be the largest funding body for research but it is not just funding, the target application of the funds is the areas that these subcommittees are identifying carefully that they will advise us leading to our interface with Attorney General of the Federation when the Bill is developed. And to the National Assembly and to all of us, we seek your support to encourage us. We are hoping that the Foundation should come perhaps much less than nine months from now”, he said.
Bogoro further appealed to the Nigerian Navy to partner with TETFund in promoting R&D in the country in order to bring about a knowledge-based economy and ensure that security challenges are tackled by leveraging on research output.
While commending its achievements for the massive transformation of higher educational institutions in Nigeria, the Naval boss, Ibas assured TETFund of his full support.
