Renowned scholar and former executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, has emphasized the crucial role of universities and tertiary institutions in driving national growth through research and community service.
Addressing an attentive audience at the 11th Convocation Lecture of Nile University, Abuja, themed ‘Reasserting the Pivotal University Roles of Research and Community Service for National Development,’ Prof. Bogoro underscored the need for universities to serve as intellectual powerhouses for national advancement.
According to Prof. Bogoro, “The completion of both theoretical and applied research is paramount. The rationale for any research initiative must be explicitly articulated in all research proposals.”
He further stressed the necessity for research projects to yield tangible problem-solving outcomes, highlighting how scientific innovation transformed Malaysia’s oil palm industry into a lucrative goldmine.
Furthermore, he emphasized the significance of collaboration between universities and industries through research, citing the exemplary synergy between academia and industry within the TETFund Research and Development Standing Committee (RDSC).
Prof. Bogoro also advocated for universities to actively engage in community service, underscoring the importance of relevance within local and broader contexts.
In acknowledging the strides made in the education sector, he commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating the disbursement of four out of the eight months’ withheld salaries owed to public university lecturers during strikes. Additionally, he lauded the approval of a Student Loan Scheme designed to alleviate the financial burden on students from underprivileged backgrounds.
As the annual budgetary allocation for the education sector has recently been increased, along with the elevation of Education Tax from 2.50 to 3.00 percent through TETFund, Prof. Bogoro recommended a more substantial deployment of funds to address non-budgetary funding priorities for public tertiary institutions, a core mandate of TETFund since its inception.
