•· N7.8 billion university research funds underutilised
The shocking announcement that N7.8 billion in funds meant for research in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions are yet to be drawn upon is a sobering reminder of the fact that the lack of money is not always the major problem confronting the enhancement of research in the country. According to the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, N10.052 billion was allocated to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for institution-based research between 2009 and 2014. The funds are domiciled in Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and are accessible to federal and state-owned tertiary institutions. Over 70 per cent of this amount has not been touched, a development the minister sees as demonstrative of a lack of seriousness on the part of the putative recipients.
Along with teaching and community service, research is a pillar of the tertiary education system. Research is vital to the social, economic and political progress of any society. World Bank figures show that the United States spent 2.79 per cent of its GDP on research and development between 2010 and 2014; China spent 1.98 per cent within the same period. The fact that similar figures are not available for Nigeria is an unflattering testimony of the nation.
Whenever unions like the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) embark on their often-interminable strike actions, the lack of funding for research activities is usually one of their major grievances. They complain that the low ranking of Nigeria’s higher institutions is due to the dearth of research conducted within them, and cannot be remedied without proper funding. The unions often go on to argue that the alleged refusal of federal and state governments to provide the required funds is part of comprehensive attempts to cripple the country’s education system, and thereby render it less “troublesome.”
There is obviously a profound disconnect between the demand for research funds and their blatant under-utilisation, and it is a situation for which all the concerned parties are responsible. The administrators of TETFund have not done enough to publicise the availability of research funds; the tertiary institutions could have done more to avail themselves of the funds; the unions ought to have focused their energies on accessing what was available, instead of making unsubstantiated accusations.
TETFund appears to be more interested in sitting on the money than ensuring that it is properly utilised. In an information technology era, there is no reason why it has not embarked upon a relentless publicity campaign to ensure that there is keen competition for the research funds domiciled with it. If Nigerian researchers assiduously apply for grants from bodies like the Ford and Carnegie Foundations, there can be no reason why they should overlook locally-available funds.
The nation’s tertiary institutions are perhaps the most culpable culprits of all. They are supposed to be more aware than anyone else of the significance of research and the vital necessity of obtaining the resources with which to propagate it. Securing research grants should be made a mandatory condition for promotion; comprehensive programmes should be set up to enlighten lecturers on the research-grant writing process; closer cooperation should be sought with funding agencies such as TETFund in order to ensure that opportunities are not wasted.
The unions must seek to protest less and achieve more. They should transcend the superficial satisfactions inherent in blaming federal and state governments for all that is wrong in tertiary education and focus on solutions. It makes no sense to demand increased funding for research if available funds have not been fully utilised. The unions should concentrate on ensuring that whatever bureaucratic or other unnecessary obstacles prevent their members from accessing research funds are overcome.
Money for research is available. Tertiary institutions are full of viable research projects crying out for funding. It is time to stop making excuses and put those funds to work. In the abundance of water, only the fool is thirsty.
