NBTE Urges For Synergy Between Varsities, Polytechnics On Research

By Admin

The National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, has called for synergy between polytechnics and universities on the conduct of research which will bring about development in the country.

Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, made the call in Abuja on Wednesday, during an interactive meeting with Rectors and Directors of Research of Polytechnics on National Research Fund, NRF, grants organised by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund.

Bugaje lamented that the roles of ppolytechnics in the country are being neglected adding that it was part of the reason research in Nigeria are not yielding desired results.

“Research and development is a topical issue.

TETFund has created NRF to drive high level of research that could led innovation. Today, in Nigeria, almost 99.9 percent of these researches do not yield innovation. They end up as journal papers published in papers and cited.

“Therefore, there must be synergy between Universities and Polytechnics if our research and development is to lead to innovation.

“I’m calling for a very close collaboration, if necessary, I would like the NRF to give a section of its grants for these activities by the polytechnics, even continue to fund fundamental research.

“NRF must have a rethink and we must allocate certain amounts for this level of moving our research to commercialisation,” he said.