Director of Research and Innovation, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Prof. Bola Oboh, has described as heart-warming, the over N419 million research grant recently won by 14 scholars of the institution.
Oboh told our source at the weekend in Lagos that 14 UNILAG research proposals were awarded the TETFund National Research Fund (NRF) grants out of the 128 awarded to universities nationwide.
“The university clearly had the highest number of awardees and this indeed is heartwarming and encouraging.
“We competed favourably because our proposals showed very convincingly to the erudite panel of reviewers in the various fields that UNILAG researchers can, through quality research, make meaningful and more outstanding contribution to attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) in the various fields,” she added.
The director said that the grants won by the 14 research groups from the university were in the following thematic areas: Health and Social Welfare (five); National Integration and Security (two); Economic Development (two); Education and Training (one); Space, Science and Technology (one); Social Development and Welfare (one).
Others were; Language, Literature and Media (one) and Population Studies (one).
She said that the university had a plan for an endless cycle of researchers who could submit competitive proposals, conduct quality research, implement novel outcomes of research, and contribute to national development and global recognition.
“I am absolutely sure that with the quality of researchers that we currently have, there is no doubt that as the funds are released, the researchers will utilise the funds appropriately for the purposes for which it is meant,” Oboh said.

The people of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have expressed delight about locating a centre for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in the community.
The President, Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), Chief Bisi Adeyemi, told our source in Omu-Aran on Saturday that the development was long overdue and a welcome development.
The new centre in Omu-Aran joined others in Aran-Orin, Offa and Erin-Ile to cater for UTME candidates in Kwara South Senatorial District of the state.
Adeyemi said the UTME centre, apart from having the potential of impacting positively on the education development in the community, would also boost its commercial and trading activities.
The community leader pledged that the association would never relent in giving necessary assistance toward sustainability of the centre.
He said that locating the centre in the community would also create more awareness for the youths in terms of seeking improved academic excellence.
Usman praised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for considering the community worthy of recognition.
“No word can express the joy and happiness of the people of Omu-Aran over the approval given to this UTME centre.
“We will do our possible best to mobilise our people, especially in the areas of security and accommodation for the prospective candidates and other visitors.
“The essence is geared toward making the candidates’ stay in the community a memorable and rewarding experience.
“The community is not only projected positively in the national map but also as a safe and viable haven for national assignments,” he said.
The Education Secretary, Irepodun Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Mr Razak Ojewoye, described the development as heartwarming and unprecedented in the history of the community.
“This will definitely contribute a lot to our efforts toward transforming education in our locality,” he said.
Similarly, the centre’s Supervisor, Mr Kazeen Ojiwusi, praised the people of the community for their hospitality and cooperation.
He expressed optimism that the centre would witness a hitch free UTME exercise.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has disclosed the efforts of his administration to review and domesticate the National Policy on Teacher Education in order to enhance teachers’ welfare and improved service delivery.
This came even as the FCT College of Education in Zuba said it has commenced degree programmes in some of its departments.
Provost of the College, Dr Muhammad Gambo Hamza, announced this at the weekend during the Second Combined Convocation of the institution in Abuja.
He said: “Academic visitations were undertaken and Memorandum of Understanding on academic collaborations were signed with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to commence bachelor degree programmes in some departments from 2019/2020 Academic Session. We have received approval from the National University Commission”.
The Provost however lamented that the “technical aspect” of the College was set to come on full stream, saying; “In the light of the present trend and the need to prepare teachers who are adequately equipped with both knowledge and skills for self reliance, I wish to appeal to the visitor for adequate funding to enable the college expand its programmes by introducing the technical component such as automobile technology, building, electrical electronics, and metal/wood work”.
On his part, the minister called on the management of the college to move some key schools and administrative offices to its permanent site as a matter of priority, promising greater support for the institution as it prepares for its fifth round of accreditation.
Bello, who was represented by the Minister of State of the FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, assured that the FCT Administration will assist in making the relocation to the permanent site seamless, adding that a lot of resources have been expended on the site through the intervention of TETFUND.
“I therefore enjoin all staff to be dedicated to their work and to give the students the best that is required of them while shunning vices that are inimical to your professional ethics”.
Bello commended the college for the commencement and smooth take-off of the undergraduate programme for the award of degrees in education, while urging management to explore other partnerships and collaborations that would be beneficial to the college in order to complement the efforts of government.
Earlier, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Sir Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa, expressed concern over the backlog of graduands of the institution who had completed their NCE programmes, from 2010 to date, while calling on the management to work hard at ensuring that convocation and other such important activities of the college are not delayed.
The Convocation covered 12, 969 graduands who had graduated from the school for the past 10 years.