TETFund responds to security challenge, commences research on production of military equipment

By Anu Elegbe

The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Prof. Suleiman Bogoro has announced that the agency has commenced financial intervention into Research and Development (R&D) activities in the Nigerian defense and security sub-sector.

According to him, the objective is to ensure that the Nigerian armed forces have the capacity to produce adequate weapons and other equipment that can be deployed in the fight against terrorism and other security challenges.

Prof. Suleiman Bogoro made this known on Monday while declaring open a four-day TETFund R&D Standing Committee meeting in Abuja.

“This move would enable Nigeria to be self-sufficient in locally produced technology for our armed forces and other security agencies,” he said.

Prof. Bogoro, who expressed delight over the performance of the 165-member TETFund R&D Standing Committee, which was inaugurated in September last year, said the various reports submitted by the body shows that  the triple helix model, which brings academia and industry on the same platform holds the key to a brighter future for Nigeria.

Prof. Bogoro, who expressed delight over the performance of the 165-member TETFund R&D Standing Committee, which was inaugurated in September last year, said the various reports submitted by the body shows that  the triple helix model, which brings academia and industry on the same platform holds the key to a brighter future for Nigeria.

Also speaking, one of the Vice Chairmen of the TETFund R&D Standing Committee, Dr Mansur Ahmed, said Nigeria needs to leverage on R&D to usher in desired development.

Mansur, who is the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, lamented that while other countries that have their activities driven by research and scientific development have continued to produce COVID-19 vaccines, Africa is far behind because of poor R&D.