The collaboration between the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) towards promoting domestication of modern research and innovation techniques has taken a further step with the inauguration of a Management Board for the TETFund Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies sited at the University of Ibadan.
The inauguration ceremony was performed recently at the university campus by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale who admonished members of the board to be forthright to ensure actualizing the goals of the Centre.
The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Professor Peter Olapegba recalled the visit of the Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa to the university for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding which culminated in the establishment of the Centre in 2023.
The Board will be chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships of the university, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose (SAN) and is charged with the oversight role of policy approval and ratification for implementation by the management of the Centre.
It would be recalled that the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono had during a visit by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa to the Fund in 2022 disclosed plans to partner with NIDCOM on promoting the domestication of modern research and innovation techniques with the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies at the University of Ibadan. This was followed up with the allocation of the sum of 1 billion Naira by TETFund for the establishment of the Centre.
