Researchers showcase work at premiere exhibition

OVER 30 projects were showcased at the first Research and Development Grant exhibition hosted by the Lagos State government.

The researchers, drawn from various institutions of higher learning across the country, were beneficiaries of state’s N142.2 million grant to support research and development in various fields.

At the exhibition, staged at the State Banquet Hall, Lagos State House, Alausa, researchers showcased innovations in the areas of manufacturing, environmental sciences, media, culture and creative industries. Others are in the areas of health care delivery, educational needs as well as power/energy.

State Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pension, Florence Oguntuase, said of the N142.2 million approved for research by governor Babatunde Fashola, N126.2 million has been disbursed to the benefitting tertiary institutions.

Fashola, who was represented by his deputy, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the state had demonstrated that through research and development, it could harness homegrown innovative ideas whose implementation would forge the state closer to the achievement of the State Development Plan 2012-2025.

Chairman of the Research Council, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, said the state government set up the council in 2012 with the sole aim of looking into the state Development Plan by engaging in research that would aid its fruition.

Executive Secretary, Nigeria University Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, disclosed that about 300 researchers working in 31 teams undertook the researches.