The Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) on Monday awarded grants ranging from N3 million to N7 million to fund nine research topics by some researchers drawn from the state-owned tertiary institutions.

The exercise, the first support for research and development is part of the agency’s intervention in the education sector.

The benefitting Institutions are Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma; University of Africa (UAT), Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa; and Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, and the research is to tackle a wide-range of challenges around the development of Bayelsa and human society.

Speaking at the presentation of the research grants to the awardees in Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary of the EDTF, Dr Alice Atuwo said they constituted the first batch of academics from the institutions, and described research as a critical component of development in society.

She stated that it was in recognition of the importance of research that the fund, within limits of available funds, decided to support the scholarly works of the benefiting scholars after a rigorous selection process.

“As you embark on your journeys of exploration, remember that the impact of your work extends beyond the confines of laboratories or academic institutions.

“The outcomes of your research has the potential to touch the lives of people in communities across the globe, fostering positive change, and offering hope for a brighter future, especially for Bayelsa State,” Atuwo said.

Also speaking, the Acting Chairman of the EDTF, Prof. Francis Sikoki, said the value of grants for the fund’s Research, Education and Technology Programme differed from one research project to another.

“The amount varies from about N3 million to about N7 million. The maximum for now is N7 million. The duration of the projects also varies from 10 months to 12 months”, Sikoki said

Sikoki said the EDTF received a total of 64 research proposals from which only nine were selected for funding, adding that, “All the applications we received were of very high quality and relevant for addressing or providing answers to the myriad of problems we face both nationally and at the state level.”

He urged the beneficiaries to give the agency a reason to take delight in the outcomes of their research and justify the confidence reposed in them.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Gentle Emelah, who was represented by the Director of Higher, Technical and Science Education in the ministry, Mr Diepreye Abidikan, commended the EDTF for its commitment and interventions.

He said Gov Douye Diri was interested in the activities of the EDTF for the development of all tiers of education in the state, and advised the beneficiaries to be serious with the research projects in for the agency to realise the objectives of the initiative.

One of the beneficiaries and lecturer with the UAT, Dr Godwin Poi, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the EDTF for the grants and appealed to the government not to allow the outcomes of their research to remain on the shelves.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Chairman, Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee on Education represented by Wisdom Fafi (PDP, Kolokuma/Opokuma 2), Vice-Chancellors of UAT and BMU, Profs. Kingston Nyamapfene and Ebitimitula Etebu, respectively.