As part of its mandate on research and innovation, the Tertiary Education Trust fund has set up a National Contact Point to operate as a channel for information dissemination on opportunities.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, announced this at the presentation of the Nigerian Contact Network programme for 2023-2024, in Abuja.
He said until now, Nigeria has not fully participated in the European Union research funding framework.
Echono revealed that the process was set up to make sure researchers from the country, effectively make use of the EU Research and Innovation framework programme, notably the Horizon Europe to foster innovation.
“TETFund is supporting research groups from various Nigerian universities through the provision of training and mentoring on writing successful grant applications, project management, partnership and consortia development to further complement and extend the support being made available by EU delegates.
“Currently, the Fund has released a request for expression of interest for Nigerian researchers and Research Teams. TETFUND will spearhead the formation of a bilateral agreement on research and innovation between Nigeria and the EU, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Science and Technology and innovation,” he said.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Monisola Udoh clarified the need for collaboration is to help Nigeria establish a knowledge-based economy through research.
“And we can not create good knowledge if we don’t do research and the whole purpose of this gathering is about supporting R&D for national development and am looking forward to a situation when Nigeria can trade benefits from this operation and our researchers are better empowered to do relevant research for national development.
“We need to focus on local problems that are human problems and if we can get the solution right here, Nigeria may become the provider of solutions that will address humanity issues globally.”
