The BUA Group would spend $100 million annually to boost research in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The founder of the conglomerate, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2021 Roundtable for the Development of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE).
The Director of Government Relations of the company, Dr Aliyu Hong, who represented Rabiu, said university education required a facelift, hence, the need for adequate funding to make the institutions as effective in the committee of nations.
Also, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, called for a more robust partnership between the private and public sectors to fund tertiary education.
Gambari, represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Timipre Sylva, also said that institutions must begin to think outside the box to expand innovation for educational advancement.
“We must endeavour to focus more on technology that will make research thrive in our institutions.
“We need to start developing technologies that are acknowledged globally to solve problems, which is another phase in the educational development of the country.
“We need to actually begin to research our problems and find solutions, the educational system needs to lead in the push.
“There is now a need for collaboration between academics and industry, especially in our oil industry. We have been producing oil in the late 50s, which means our territory is a matured one.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukah, called for support in the provision of laboratory equipment as well as all related equipment to enhance the education of Nigerians.
