Four research teams get $250,000 grant to strengthen ecosystem

Four Nigerian research teams have received a $250,000 grant from the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) to strengthen the country’s research and innovation ecosystem. 

The award followed successful implementation of the Research for Impact Initiative (R41) under the auspices of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), where the four teams were shortlisted to advance their ideas through a collaborative research grant established under SGCs with Innov8 Technology Hub as technical partner. 
 
The Guardian reports that the initiative, which is jointly funded by the governments of Canada, Britain and South Africa, aims to strengthen the capacities of 17 Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. 
 
Speaking at the project’s inauguration and initial bootcamp in Abuja yesterday, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, explained that the grant would support the teams in finding homegrown solutions to challenges confronting the society. 

He disclosed that since Nigeria joined the SGCI in 2020, five years after its launch, the nation would have received over three grants by now. 
 
Represented by Director, Research Development and Innovation, Dr. Salihu Bakari, the Executive Secretary said the funding seeks to bridge the gap between research and practical application, as well as fostering innovations that could be commercialised.
 
He said: “This grant is provided to participating countries. We joined late. The programme started in 2015. If we had joined earlier, we would have got about three different grants by now. But it’s better late than never. We joined in 2020 and got this grant of $250,000 for four participating groups. 
 
“The essence is to help them transform their research findings into commercialisable goods and services in this country. 
 
“As you have seen, some are working on processing of garri, others are working on renewable energy. 

“The four teams are going to use this money to help develop their research into prototype and into minimum viable products, pitch them with industries so that there will be takeoff of the products.”