Varsity gets N53m TETFund grants for banditry, mosquito research

The Federal University Dutse, FUD, has secured two Tertiary Education Trust Fund research grants totalling N53 million to develop solutions to banditry in northern Nigeria and mosquito-borne diseases.

The grants were awarded under the TETFund National Research Fund, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the university’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Abdullahi Yahaya.

One of the projects, led by Professor Ado Jangargari, received N25 million to investigate alternative livelihoods for northern pastoralists as a strategy for tackling banditry and kidnapping.

The project is titled, “Tech for Peace: Engaging Northern Pastoralists in Non-Agricultural Livelihoods to Counter Banditry and Kidnapping.”

The second project, led by Professor Joshua Balogun, received N28 million and seeks to develop an indoor carbon dioxide sequestration machine for controlling mosquito movement.

The project, titled “Development of Indoor Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Machine (iCor-SeMa) for Diversionary Control of Mosquitoes in Nigeria,” is focused on developing an alternative approach to mosquito control.

Yahaya said both projects would run for 24 months, with the researchers expected to produce findings capable of addressing practical challenges in communities.

“The researchers have two years to deliver results that can make real impact in our communities,” he said.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ahmad Gumel, congratulated the researchers and urged them to ensure timely implementation and quality delivery of the projects.

Gumel also expressed optimism that the university would secure additional research grants, saying academic staff had been encouraged to explore funding opportunities through the NRF and other research programmes.

The university management, according to the statement, would monitor the projects to ensure they meet TETFund’s objectives and produce outcomes capable of benefiting Jigawa State and Nigeria as a whole.