Over N3billion research grants have been awarded to researchers and authors of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) in the last one year.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, stated this, yesterday, in Abuja at the presentation of awards to 55 researchers and authors of the institution.
While stressing that the university is targeting research grant of N10 billion next year for its researchers and authors, the academic applauded the awardees for being good ambassadors of the institution.
“As a research-intensive university, our goal is to have impact on our society. We express our determination to put UNIABUJA at the top of universities in Nigeria because we are number one.
“We are making a mark as a university and we are determined to show that, no matter what it takes, we will research and impact the world. We will show what a world class university should be with UNIABUJA,” he said.
Na’Allah disclosed that the university would soon establish a Youth Leaders Clinic to train and prepare young people for leadership positions.
Breakdown of the awards showed that while seven researchers received gold medals, two were awarded silver and 45 collected bronze.
For authors, eight gold, nine silver and 27 bronze.
MEANWHILE, the VC of Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arajkeji, Osun State, Prof. Olasebikan Fakolujo, has lamented the continued exclusion of private universities from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) loans.
While emphasising that private universities play significant roles in the country’s higher education landscape by contributing to the development of skilled professionals and fostering innovation, Fakolujo disclosed that support from the government would be an added advantage.
The VC, who stated this, yesterday, during a press conference to herald the institution’s 14th Convocation, also frowned on the non-inclusion of students of private universities in the loan scheme of the Federal Government.
He said 467 students would be graduating, including 23 first class honours, 66 second class upper, 43 second class lower, and 12 third class degrees.
The convocation lecture will be delivered by Head of Faculty, CAC Leadership Academy, Lagos, Abiola Popoola.
According to him, the institution has, since its establishment over 15 years ago, made giant strides across the board with its mandate fulfilled.
He said: “The issue of access to TETFund loan by private universities is political. It is interwoven. But what I can say is that, recently, in the company of other principal officers, we went to the National Universities Commission (NUC) secretariat in Abuja, and one of the officers there said there was a condition that was difficult to fulfill.
“Although we felt it was a kind of injustice, if you put that aside, we have been having so many interventions. For the first time, we are listing all our benefactors in our proceedings, and we have close to 12 benefactors. If TETFund comes around, it will be an added advantage.”
He noted that even private universitiesand their employees pay taxes as and when due; hence should be given equal opportunities as citizens.
