Researchers at the University of Abuja, UniAbuja, won over N3 billion grants this year from donor agencies for research grants.
The Vice Chancellor, UniAbuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the award ceremony for researchers and authors.
Na’allah said that the 2023 grant of over N3 billion was a significant improvement compared to the N1 billion that was won in 2022.
The vice-chancellor urged those leading in research to share their experiences with others, adding that they should support one another in order to bring in more researchers.
“When you hear information on grant, share it around so more people can participate, this will help the university produce more grant winning researchers.
“There is no world class university if there are no world scholars; we must continue to show this nation that a world class university is achievable and we have achieved it.
“We have made over N3 billion in research grants this year; we are making a mark and we are determined as a university that whatever it will take we must move forward.’’
He said there was need for scholars to invest in research because as they were the things needed to solve the problems facing the nation today.
The vice chancellor urged more scholars to apply for grants.
“What gives you joy as a scholar is research grants you get from outside; you have to keep working on getting a grant until you succeed,’’ he said.
Na’allah called on scholars to think of how to solve the problems of Nigeria such as insecurity, bad leadership among others through their research work.
He said that the university was taking the lead in resolving the problem of leadership, adding that the university would soon establish youth leadership clinic.
He said that this clinic would help to train young people and prepare them to take over the leadership of Nigeria.
The don assured the researchers that the university would not disappoint them as they continue to put the university on the map through this research grant.
He advised authors to ensure that originality was their main focus, adding that they should be innovative and create new words in their works.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that under the researchers’ cadre, seven persons won gold, two silver and 45 bronze while in the authors cadre, eight persons won gold, nine silver and 27 bronze.
Earlier, the Director, UniAbuja Centre for Sponsored Projects (CSP), Prof. Obiageli Nnodu, said the centre was introduced in 2020 by the vice chancellor.
Nnodu, while appreciating the vice chancellor, said that the centre which started small, had grown into something big.
She said the researcher category was bringing extra income, adding that researcher income was adding significantly to the revenue of the university.
One of the awardees, Dr Dike Orji, on behalf of other awardees, appreciated the vice chancellor and the university for their support to all scholars and researchers.
Orji said the recipients would continue to put in their best to see that the university grew in terms of research.
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