In an effort to address Nigeria’s pressing security and economic challenges, the country’s academic and research communities as well as the military are coming together under the umbrella of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) initiative, through research collaboration.
The Chairman of TETfund National Research Fair/Exhibition Committee, Professor Hayward Mafuyai, made this known when the committee met researchers and other stakeholders in Kaduna.
The researchers are drawn from the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Nigerian Army, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), representatives of universities, other tertiary institutions and some leaders of business communities across the country.
Mafuyai emphasised the urgency to channel research efforts towards solving local problems saying, “The time has come for Nigeria to tap into its research potential to address our socio-economic problems.”
“We have hundreds of Nigerian professors and researchers working tirelessly to find solutions. This fair will provide a platform for them to showcase their work. The committee met with stakeholders from the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the Nigerian Army, universities, Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna and business leaders to finalise plans for the fair,” he said.
The Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Umar Bindir, stressed the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government noting that the resolution of research outputs will trigger meaningful change and provide a pathway for Nigeria’s future growth.
Bindir noted that the fair will focus on resolving Nigeria’s socio-economic problems, leveraging research efforts from various thematic areas, including agriculture, health, education, and security.
On his part, Deputy Chairman of the Old Pateka market in Kaduna, Alhaji Abubakar Musa said the fair will enable the over 30,000 artisans in the market to showcase their skills in fabrication and other areas.
