The Tertiary Education Trust Fund is set to support Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, in building an advanced research laboratory for the conduct of biological analysis and other research works.
This was as names of about 20 lecturers were sent to TETfund for sponsorship in research activities.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Abakaliki, Elder Professor Chigozie Ogbu, disclosed this when the leadership of the Nigeria union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, paid him a working visit in his office at Ezzangbo, the permanent site of the institution.
Ogbu, a former deputy Governor of Ebonyi state, further disclosed that the research laboratory when completed would be one of its kind in the South -East and South-South regions of Nigeria.
He noted that the lab would also serve Researchers from other part of the Country especially parts of the North Central zone such as Benue State and would also serve as a source of revenue to the University.
“We have a committee that considers research proposals. Three weeks ago, about 42 Lecturers submitted their research proposal. The committee screened it and I think over 20 were approved, and they have been sent to TETFund for funding.
“Academic Staff promoted to Associate professors and professors in EBSU are almost over 100 since this administration came on board”, Ogbu said
Speaking on the general staff welfare,Ogbu said it has been a top priority of his administration.
“We were promoting staff nominally without financial benefits due to paucity of fund, but because of the recent intervention of the Visitor to the University, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru who is also an alumnus of the University, we started all the promotions with the financial benefits.
“We have paid June salary and we are preparing to pay July salary as well. Our staff are very happy this time. Promotion of staff is ongoing with the financial benefits and it’s been encouraging”, he disclosed.
He said the university had made a tremendous achievements in infrastructure development, citing the new Faculty of Education and other facilities at the permanent site of the school as some of the major attractions in the institution.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Ebonyi State Council, Comrade Chinedu Nwafor commended the Vice Chancellor and his Management team for the positive changes the university had recorded under their watch and urged them to sustain the tempo.
Nwafor however requested for a special consideration for NUJ members who may want to further their education.
Reacting on the request, Prof. Ogbu said the university lacks financial capacity to grant such request, but assured of the Management’s readiness to assist academically.
“On the issue raised concerning PGD programs in Mass Communication Department, I must tell you that one of the greatest problem in this University is funding. In 2014, state subvention was N240m, in 2015, it was reduced to N200m, when I came in here, it was reduced to N150m, but initially, it was N350m a month. It took God’s grace for us to survive.
“On top of it, COVID-19 and ASUU strike came and school was closed and we still have to pay lecturers. It was a very difficult time. By God’s grace, we weathered that storm and came out. We have been struggling because our major source of income is the students’ school fees”.