By Felix Khanoba
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has constituted a seven-member Advisory Committee to steer the establishment and effective use of multipurpose laboratories in tertiary institutions across the nation’s six geopolitical zones.
The committee was inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono.
Former Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki, is serving as chairman of the committee.
Speaking at the inauguration, Echono said the committee had been given one month to offer strategic direction on the laboratories’ design, equipment specifications, deployment and sustainable management in order to achieve optimal results.
“Today’s event is part of the legacies of the present administration to build in this nation a research culture and the supporting infrastructure that will help to transform our country from one of consumption to one that not only produces, but is able to compete with its peers across the globe,” he said.
He noted that the committee would review and update the equipment list earlier proposed, in view of the fast pace of technological advancement and the danger of equipment becoming outdated.
According to him, the committee’s terms of reference include reviewing and updating the proposed equipment list for the multipurpose laboratories; recommending high-quality and cost-effective equipment for phased procurement where necessary; and assessing and advising on the adequacy of the management framework.
Other duties assigned to the panel involve making additional recommendations to ensure effective take-off and long-term sustainability of the laboratories, including partnerships with industry and revenue-generation strategies.
“We are living in times of rapid obsolescence. The technology field is very disruptive. There is a need for constant review,” he added.
Echono further stated that sustainable economic growth depends on innovative, solution-driven research supported by adequate infrastructure, assuring that the laboratories would have alternative power sources to enable round-the-clock research.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Maiyaki expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in the members and pledged that they would deliver within the stipulated period.
“We do not take for granted the confidence and the trust that you have bestowed on us to contribute our own quota in the successful execution of this very important national assignment of historic significance,” he said.
He assured that the members, drawn from top figures in research, higher education and governance, had studied their terms of reference and were ready to meet expectations.
“We note the game-changing opportunities to be provided by these high-tech, modern, centralised academic and research laboratories as they play a critical role in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical applications,” he added.
