Researchers should collaborate for better impact –  TETFund

Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Executive Secretary, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro has called on scholars and researchers to collaborate in their research efforts in order to record better impact, adding that there is a limit to an individual effort.

Prof. Bogoro spoke at the commissioning of the Renewable Resources Center located at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan which was funded by the combination of 2011 to 2014 TETFund normal intervention.

The multidisciplinary research efforts of the Centre culminated in various projects including biogas and accessories, electricity generation, spent slurry utilization for liquid and solid organic fertilizer, mushroom cultivation, smokeless charcoal, Syngas from less significant wastes and household composter among others.

Elated by the innovations, the TETFund boss noted that working together in projects like these goes a long way to develop the country in its “waste to wealth ” campaign, adding, “working together also guarantee effective mentoring of the younger ones”

Prof. Bogoro who challenged universities to keep the problems of the society in focus in their research, pointed out that the gown must be relevant to the town by cultivating the industry, saying “expectations of leadership are from the universities”

Earlier, one of the leaders of the research team, Prof. M. K. C. Sridhar recalled that the concept of a Renewable Resources Centre began in 1980s when his researches were centered on environment, pollution, wastes, community health and wellbeing.

According to him, “the charcoal we produced with the kiln is the product of March 9, 2019 storm which devastated UI campus resulting in several trees falling. We have over 25 projects which we can proudly market including photo therapy lamp for neonatal jaundice treatment”

In his own remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka thanked TETFund for the investment and intervention, expressing optimism that “with more funding, UI is ready to scale up much of the knowledge that has been incubated ”

Some of the innovations were later displayed to the amazement of the gathering.