By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inaugurated a seven-man Advisory Committee to oversee the modalities of equipping multipurpose laboratories in institutions across the six-geopolitical zones of the Nation.
Setting a timeline of one month for the presentation of the blueprint by the committee.
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Arch. Sonny Echono, said, your committee in the first instance has one month to give us a blueprint of equipping, and thereafter, we will also require your services when we now come to the implementation stage, to see that indeed implementation reflects the recommendations that was made.
At the inauguration ceremony which took place at the organizations headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Secretary stated that with the securement of approval from the
Presidential and Federal Executive Council, the Fund commenced the construction of six central multipurpose laboratories, each one located strategically in one geopolitical zone.
He revealed that construction work on the first four laboratories is at an advanced stage and expected to be completed before the year runs out, while the remaining two, which were later approved are also progressing steadily.
Stressing, that physical infrastructure alone would not deliver the transformative impact envisioned.
“We have found it absolutely necessary not to allow any gap. As we are getting them ready, there is a need to select the equipment that will be installed and deployed to these centres.”
The Executive Secretary noted also, that rapid technological changes and the pace of obsolescence in research tools require constant review, “the newly inaugurated Advisory Committee is therefore tasked with reviewing and updating the equipment specifications to ensure that the laboratories are not only functional but cutting edge,” He said.
Echono further said the facilities would be designed as oases of uninterrupted research activity, complete with alternative power supply to guarantee 24-hour operations.
He lamented the current challenges faced by researchers, including the contamination of samples due to power outages and the costly practice of sending samples abroad for analysis.
“Research must be able to go on at all times. The whole practice of sending certain samples abroad or samples getting contaminated because you were not able to retain them under a particular temperature is not going to happen with these facilities. They are going to be cutting edge, and we will ensure that this is the case.”
Furthermore, he stated that data from TETFund’s interventions, including the National Research Fund and mega research grants, showed that a significant portion of grant allocations was routinely spent on procuring laboratory equipment and consumables.
“The high number of scholars seeking foreign-based benchmarking and laboratory support during their doctoral programmes further underscores the urgency of reform.” He said.
Echono noted that beyond providing state-of-the-art equipment, TETFund envisions the laboratories as centralised hubs that will foster collaboration, reduce duplication, and stimulate industry partnerships.
“Companies should go there, talk to them about problems, ask them for solutions, look for innovation and product development. The idea is that they should be able to service our country, particularly the manufacturing sector and services, so we can have a pool of talent working on various issues of research and coming up with products and services that can be commercialised,” he added.
The Executive Secretary expressed confidence in the committee to bringing their wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of the assignment given.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the committee, Dr Chris Maiyaki, while expressing gratitude, described the task at hand as a responsibility to the Nation, assuring that the committee would deliver within the stipulated timeframe.
He revealed, that the committe had already familiarised themselves with the terms of reference.
Maiyaki described the proposed laboratories as game changers that would bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, noting that as zonal hubs for high-level research training, they would offer opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards a knowledge-driven economy.
