The Federal Government on Tuesday approved a grant of ₦4.2 billion to support 158 research projects under the 2024 Grant Cycle of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s National Research Fund.
The approval came after the TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee reviewed and recommended the 158 research proposals, following a rigorous selection process that began with the submission of 6,944 concept notes from researchers across the country.
According to a statement signed by TETFund’s Director of Public Affairs, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, the approved funds will be allocated as follows: ₦2,349,951,630.43 for the Science, Engineering, Technology, and Innovation thematic group; ₦1,028,966,204.32 for Humanities and Social Sciences; and ₦870,708,982.94 for Cross-Cutting research areas.
“Beneficiary Institutions with the highest number of awards include the Federal University of Technology, Minna with a total of 15 awards amounting to N400,035,708.51; Ahmadu Bello University with 13 awards totaling N359,809,744.18, and Federal University of Technology, Akure with 12 awards at N341,608,592.80.
“Others are Federal University of Technology, Owerri with 11 awards at N256,350,698.80; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi with 10 awards at N273,406,318.80 and University of Ilorin with 8 awards totaling N220,538,834.12,” the statement said.
The statement further noted that the approved research projects include a wide range of innovative topics, such as the development of a sustainable and eco-friendly walling system for low-cost housing in rural Nigerian communities; the creation of a hybrid cubic fertilizer using plant-based binders to enhance nutrient release and use; and the design of an intelligent aerial robotics system for effective weed and disease control in maize-cowpea farmlands in Nigeria.
Other approved projects include the development of an artificial intelligence-enabled Internet of Medical Things for monitoring soldiers’ physiological health and activities in war zones, as well as the creation of a novel intelligent metering system for efficient electrical energy management.