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Lagos Disburses N171 Million Grant to Varsities(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The Lagos State government has disbursed N171, 19,500 million to seven institutions as research grants. The benefiting institutions are; University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Caleb University, Lagos, Yaba College of Technology and the African Languages Technology Initiative. The fund is the initial allocation of the N142,239million approved for research in the state budget. The cheques were handed over to vice-chancellors and other representatives of the benefiting institutions at a ceremony yesterday. The institutions are to carry out researche in agriculture, education, environmental science, ICT as well as manufacturing. Others are power and energy generation, finance, water and creative arts. In his remarks, Governor Babatunde Fashola, who said subsequent disbursement of the grants would be based on monitored appreciable progress. He challenged academics in the country to prove their mettle by accessing the grant which is open to all Nigerians. Pointing out that most researches on issues affecting Africa are carried out outside the continent, Governor Fashola called on Professor Maurice Iwu to reopen his research on Ebola drug and submit his proposals to the Lagos Research and Development Council. Earlier, chairman of the council, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, said 137 proposals were received while thirty from the benefitting institutions were shortlisted after painstaking scrutiny. Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Professor John Obafunwa, assured that the funds would be applied judiciously. A ten-member research and development council was inaugurated in September 2012, to identify and fund ideas to address developmental needs of the state. Copyright Daily Trust. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |