By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) has awarded grants of N7 million to fund nine research topics by some academic researchers, drawn from state-owned tertiary institutions, as part of the agency’s intervention in the education sector.
The institutions are the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma; University of Africa (UAT), Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa; and Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, and the research topics cover a wide-range of issues around the development of human society.
Speaking at the presentation of the research grants to the awardees in Yenagoa on Friday, the executive secretary of the EDTF, Alice Atuwo said they constitute the first batch of academics from institutions, and described research as a critical component of development in human society.
She noted that it was in recognition of the importance of research that the agency, “within its scope and availability of funds”, decided to support the scholarly works of the benefiting scholars after a rigorous screening exercise.
While urging them to give in their best, Atuwo said, “As you embark on your journeys of exploration, remember that the impact of your work extends beyond the confines of laboratories or academic institutions.
“The outcomes of your research have the potential to touch the lives of people in communities across the globe, fostering positive change, and offering hope for a brighter future, especially for Bayelsa State.”
Also, the acting chairman of the EDTF, Prof. Francis Sikoki said the grants, under the agency’s Research, Education and Technology Programme, differed from one research project to another.
“But it varies from about N3 million to about N7 million. The maximum for now is N7 million. The duration of the projects (of research) also varies. Some are for 10 months but the majority of those we awarded are for 12 months”, he said.
Sikoki said the EDTF received a total of 64 research proposals from which only nine were selected for funding, stressing that “all the applications we received were of very high quality and relevant for addressing or providing answers to the myriad of problems we face both nationally and at the state level.”
He urged the beneficiaries to give the agency a reason to take delight in the outcomes of their research and justify the confidence reposed in them.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Gentle Emelah, who was represented by the director of Higher, Technical and Science Education in the ministry, Diepreye Abidikan, commended the EDTF for its commitment and interventions.
He said Governor Douye Diri was interested in the activities of the EDTF for the development of the state, and admonished the beneficiaries to be serious with the research projects in order for the agency to realise the objectives behind the initiative.
One of the beneficiaries and lecturer with the UAT, Dr Godwin Poi, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the EDTF for the grants and appealed to the government not to allow the outcomes of their research to remain on the shelves.
At the event, goodwill messages were delivered by the chairman, Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee on Education represented by Wisdom Fafi (Kolokuma/Opokuma 2); the vice-chancellors of UAT and BMU, Profs. Kingston Nyamapfene and Ebitimitula Etebu, among others
