The Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) on Friday disbursed research grants to 16 teams from three state-owned universities under the Tertiary Institutions Research Grant Scheme (TIRGS).
The benefiting institutions include Niger Delta University; Bayelsa Medical University and University of Africa, Toru-Orua.
Speaking at the award ceremony for beneficiaries, the Executive Secretary of EDTF, Prof. Ebimieowei Etebu, restated the fund’s commitment to supporting research and development.
He said the scheme was established to support research, innovation and knowledge creation in the state’s tertiary institutions.
According to him, the grants will help researchers develop solutions to challenges peculiar to the state and contribute to policy development.
“I am pleased that we are here today to formally present research grant awards to successful grantees of TIRGS,” Etebu said.
He said the beneficiaries emerged winners of the grant following institutional review and validation of their proposals before the final approval by the EDTF.
He explained that the grants would be disbursed in tranches to promote accountability and ensure successful completion of the approved research projects.
Etebu said 75 per cent of each approved grant would be released as the first tranche through the beneficiary’s institution.
He added that 15 per cent would constitute the final tranche payable to the principal investigator after successful completion of the research.
“The remaining 10 per cent of the approved grant is reserved for the university to cover administrative costs,” he said. He urged beneficiaries to apply the funds strictly to their approved research objectives, methodology and budgets.
The executive secretary said principal investigators would bear personal responsibility for the conduct of their research and utilisation of the funds. He said the EDTF would monitor implementation and require interim and final reports from beneficiaries.
Etebu urged the tertiary institutions to provide adequate oversight and support to the researchers throughout the duration of their projects.
He said the scheme represented the commitment of the Bayelsa Government to strengthening research and improving the quality of education in the state.
In her goodwill message, Dr Stellar Ugolo, Executive Chairman, Teachers Training Registration and Certification Board, described research as critical to knowledge generation and societal advancement.
Ugolo congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to use the opportunity to develop innovations that would benefit society. She also called for the inclusion of polytechnics and colleges of education in future research support programmes.
Mr Faith Ogbara, Permanent Secretary, Post Primary Schools Management Board, urged the beneficiaries to use the grants judiciously and produce results. ‘’The research outcomes should contribute to building a better society and improving the state, ‘’ Ogbara said.
The beneficiaries pledged to utilise the grants responsibly and deliver research outcomes capable of contributing to Bayelsa’s development.
