By JOHN ONAH, Abuja –
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has set up three different committees for smooth of it’s mandate.
They include Committees on operationalization of equipment upgrade in workshops and laboratories for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education (technical), Committee on assessment/review of TETFund centres of excellence, and
Committee on operationalization of skills development special intervention.
Inaugurating the committees in Abuja on Monday, the Executive Secretary, TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono disclosed that the constitution of these Committees underscores the importance the Fund attaches to strengthening its intervention activities towards the delivery of its mandate. Bearing in mind the importance of the tasks ahead.
According to him, the Members of these Committees were carefully selected based on their individual capacities and the belief that the will collectively work as a team to deliver on these vital assignments.
He also stated that the setting up of the committees was in line with the Fund’s commitment to deepen its content-based interventions and facilitate the institutionalization of Research and Development noting that concerted efforts are being made to identify more innovative ways to enhance research capacities of the Beneficiary Institutions and promote skills development for the teeming youths.
Echono argued that, modern economic development process continues to depend on increased productivity arising from purposeful and problem-solving research.
“It has been acknowledged that no society can succeed without adequate research infrastructure facilities to support innovative research for solving societal problems”
He further disclosed that, The National Survey funded by the Fund in 2022 to assess the availability, functionality and compatibility of all existing research facilities across the Beneficiary Institutions, in relation to contemporary requirements and global best practices, revealed that most of the equipment in the Laboratories and Workshops of the beneficiary Institutions were obsolete, inadequate or underutilized.
“Notably, improving and expanding Nigeria’s R&D Infrastructure and facilities are essential if we are to raise the level of productivity and move the country to a knowledge-based economy. Consequently, the Fund made provision under the 2024 intervention for the upgrade of the equipment in Workshops and Laboratories for Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education (Technical)”.
“To ensure effective implementation of the intervention, the Fund constituted an Advisory Committee chaired by Prof. Hayward Mafuyai Babale to advise on the operationalization of the upgrade of equipment in Workshops and Laboratories of the Institutions.
The Terms of Reference of this Committee chaired by Prof. Hayward Mafuyai include,; to assess the state of workshops and Laboratories in target Institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education), this includes equipment and other facilities in use.
It is also expected to determine requirements/criteria for upgrade of equipment in the workshops and Laboratories, make recommendations regarding type/category of upgrade, whether equipment repair or replacement of obsolete equipment, physical infrastructure improvement (renovation/reconstruction/rehabilitation) of existing workshops/Laboratories, sustainable power supply or any other necessary facility needed.
The committee was also to make any other recommendations that will ensure effective and efficient use of the Workshops and Laboratories in the Institutions for maximum impact including any additional support needed.
Also, the Ad Hoc Committee chaired by Prof. Oyewale Tomori to assess and review the performance and progress of the Centres in the Universities in line with their specific mandate was to assess performance of the existing TETFund Centres of Excellence hosted in universities based on their given mandates and areas of specialization.
To Identify Centres adjudged to be performing well and recommend same for additional funds for sustainability and upgrade and make recommendations regarding type/category of upgrade whether physical infrastructure improvement, provision of required Laboratory equipment/equipment repair or any other necessary facility needed.
It was also to identify the equipment, facilities and infrastructure needed for each of the selected TCoE to be upgraded taking cognizance of geographic location, surrounding environment including presence of industries, needs of the surrounding Institutions and strategic areas of focus of the TCoE for maximum impact.
Also, any other recommendations that will ensure effective and efficient achievement of strategic objectives for the upgrade and implementation of activities of the Centres including additional support needed.
Accordingly, and in consonance with the Fund’s commitment to the promotion of skills development, provision was made for Skills Development Programme in Polytechnics under the Fund’s Special Interventions.
Consequently, the Fund constituted an Advisory Committee chaired by Prof. Idris M. Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of NBTE to advice on the modalities for the operationalization of the Skills Development Special Intervention.
The Terms of Reference for this committee was to assess present state of Skills Development Programmes in Polytechnics based on the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Policy of Government.
To harvest and determine Skills Development priorities of each Polytechnic based on its areas of comparative advantage and Identify needs of the institutions for 2 above in terms of facilities, equipment and capacity building, taking into cognizance that training programmes should not utilize more than 10% of the total amount allocated under the intervention for each Institution among others.
DISCLAIMER
The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.
Leave a Reply