The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in sub-Saharan Africa has announced the admission of Nigeria’s Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to the Initiative to advance research excellence in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships at the National Research Foundation-South Africa and SGCI Executive Committee Member, Dr Aldo Stroebel said through the engagement of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) of Nigeria to the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), Nigeria has become the 16th country in SGCL.
Dr Stroebel said Initially Nigeria will join other SGCs through the SGCI Annual Forum, bilateral exchange visits and other activities to share lessons in managing research funds for maximum impact and to identify areas for future collaboration such as joint research calls.
“Through this engagement with TETFund, facilitated by FCDO’s West Africa Research and Innovation Hub, Nigeria has become the 16th country in SGCL Initially it will join other SGCs through the SGCI Annual Forum, bilateral exchange visits and other activities to share lessons in managing research funds for maximum impact and to identify areas for future collaboration such as joint research calls, as resources become available.“
Vice-President, Programs and Partnership Branch at Canada’s International Development Research Centre, Dr Dominique Charron, extolled the population strength of Nigeria saying this will expand potential for Science Granting Councils “With the largest population and economy in Africa, Nigeria’s participation expands the potential for the Science Granting Councils Initiative to achieve its goals of strengthening science systems and building allies between science granting councils in multiple regions across the sub-continent and internationally.”
Speaking on FCDO’s involvement and the benefit to Nigeria, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing CB said the admission of Nigeria to the SGCI is a positive development that will better position Nigeria to maximize the use of research with critical consideration for social and economic priorities.
“Nigeria’s TETFund admission to the Science Granting Councils Initiative is a positive development that will better position Nigeria to maximise the commissioning and use of research for development, in line with critical national social and economic priorities.“
The UK recognises the importance of science to address global challenges, we are pleased to have supported the TETFUND to join the SGCI and will continue to work in partnership with them and other ministries, departments and agencies in Nigeria to better realise the benefits of science and research.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof Elias Bogoro said the admission of the Fund into the SGCI will open a new Vista of opportunities that will provide platforms that would further transit Nigeria to a knowledge-based economy.
“We are confident that our admission into SGCl will open a new window of opportunities that will provide platforms that can serve as a fulcrum in achieving our goals of Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge economy in the 21 century. We are assured of quality partnerships and collaborations on the continent of Africa and beyond.“
Bogoro added that National growth and competitiveness in the context of the globalized economy depends on continuous technological improvement and innovation driven by well-organized vibrant Research.
“The National Research Fund looks forward to working closely with the Fund in advancing the Science, Technology and Innovation agenda in Africa.”
TETFund is an agency set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide supplementary support to all levels of public tertiary Institutions.
The Science Granting Councils Initiative has been jointly funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO, Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Geman Research Foundation (DFG).
The initiative aims to strengthen the capacities of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in sub-Saharan Africa in order to support research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to economic and social development.
PIAK
