By Felix Khanoba
The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has expressed its readiness to commit more resources to shore up research activities in the institution.
Vice Chancellor of UniAbuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during the University’s third Undergraduate Research Day with the theme: ‘Promoting National Development Through Research.’
Represented by the Chairman of UniAbuja Research Council, Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar, the Vice Chancellor said Research and Development (R&D) is critical to national development, hence the University’s passion to strengthen its research component by also bringing students on board.
“The idea is to cultivate their (students) interest in research because any university that does not have strong component of research and development will not be highly rated during global rating,” ‘the VC said
Professor Na’ Allah, who expressed delight over the research proposals churned out by the undergraduate students, said the main objective of the Day was to expose students to R& D.
” The proposals being presented today are proposals that will be reviewed and funded. The university is willing to invest in research. The main objective of this is to expose this university students to research and development so that when they graduate they will come back to the university system already ‘armed’ (with knowledge) and know what to do when they are in the system, ” the VC said.
Also speaking, the Director of UniAbuja Centre for Undergraduate Research, Dr Taibat Adebukola Atoyebi, said 10 different research proposals by 10 students secured over N3.7 million research grants.
She said: “The total sum of the grant for today is three million, seven hundred and seventy two thousand naira for 10 students.
“Ten research proposals scaled through and are being presented today. Some proposals were returned for corrections and upgrades, these researches are to be considered in the buildup for the next We are currently receiving applications and proposals from interested group of students for the next batch of grant.
“Three students who presented their research proposals during the 1” Undergraduate Research Day are also presenting their final results/ research findings today. A highlights of the centre’s achievements so far….
“We are calling on the private sector to come into our activities so that they can help promote our research. This result will also be published in journals.”
On his part, the guest speaker and Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Ukertor Gabriel Moti, harped on the importance of research and the need to expose students to it from undergraduate level.
“We have a centre for undergraduate research and people were wondering why undergraduate research? And What we discovered and found out is that the world is changing in terms of research you don’t need to be at graduate level to be a researcher.
” We can mentor right from your undergraduate studies so that by the time you get to graduate level you are already getting mature in terms of research,” Prof Moti said.
He said if the research proposals scale through all the required processes they will go a long way in providing massive solutions to some of the problems confronting the society while at the same time time boosting the economy development of the country.
The AUTHORITY reports that the research proposals by the students covered thematic areas such as economic prosperity, food security, educational opportunity, quality health, climate change and environmental protection, among other innovative solution to societal issues.
