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| Bogoro |
TETFund inaugurates technical advisory group on book
development
development
By
Uji abdullahi Iliyasu
Uji abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
Executive
Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Suleiman Elias
Bogoro, has inaugurated technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ensure publishing of
quality indigenous academic textbooks in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions August
8 at Fraser Suites, Abuja.
Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Suleiman Elias
Bogoro, has inaugurated technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ensure publishing of
quality indigenous academic textbooks in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions August
8 at Fraser Suites, Abuja.
The
event which took place in Fraser Suites, Abuja, drew a large number of renowned
academics and erudite scholars from across selected Nigerian universities.
event which took place in Fraser Suites, Abuja, drew a large number of renowned
academics and erudite scholars from across selected Nigerian universities.
In
his opening speech, Bogoro said Nigeria is blessed with a lot of professors
with specialisation in different fields which could be put to better use to
drive the national economy.
his opening speech, Bogoro said Nigeria is blessed with a lot of professors
with specialisation in different fields which could be put to better use to
drive the national economy.
He
therefore, called on the academics who were appointed to the technical group to
take their appointment seriously as their appointments, he said, were based purely
on merit, and would last for only two years but subject to renewal upon
satisfactory performance.
therefore, called on the academics who were appointed to the technical group to
take their appointment seriously as their appointments, he said, were based purely
on merit, and would last for only two years but subject to renewal upon
satisfactory performance.
A
renowned academics, Professor Charles Awo and
Professor Umar Pate are to serve as chairman and vice chairman of TAG
respectively.
renowned academics, Professor Charles Awo and
Professor Umar Pate are to serve as chairman and vice chairman of TAG
respectively.
Bogoro
said Nigeria had realised that for a country to develop in all aspects of its
life, it needs to subscribe to a knowledge-driven economy, and gave the
examples of Brazil and Malaysia, which were once at the same level of
development with Nigeria, but have now gone far because of their early
recognition of the important role knowledge plays in a nation’s development.
said Nigeria had realised that for a country to develop in all aspects of its
life, it needs to subscribe to a knowledge-driven economy, and gave the
examples of Brazil and Malaysia, which were once at the same level of
development with Nigeria, but have now gone far because of their early
recognition of the important role knowledge plays in a nation’s development.
The
TETFund boss said it was embarrassing to see sub-standard books published by
academics in the country.
TETFund boss said it was embarrassing to see sub-standard books published by
academics in the country.
“We
are all aware that there is critical paucity of indigenously produced tertiary
level textbooks and related academic publications in the nation’s tertiary
education institutions. It is equally worrisome that the quality of most
academic publications in our country leaves much to be desired.
are all aware that there is critical paucity of indigenously produced tertiary
level textbooks and related academic publications in the nation’s tertiary
education institutions. It is equally worrisome that the quality of most
academic publications in our country leaves much to be desired.
“To
combat this trend head-on, the Book Development Fund intervention was
deliberated created by the Fund with the aim
of restoring the culture of
research and high quality academic publishing within the higher education
subsector.
combat this trend head-on, the Book Development Fund intervention was
deliberated created by the Fund with the aim
of restoring the culture of
research and high quality academic publishing within the higher education
subsector.
“It
is expected that nurturing the culture of quality authorship and the production
of indigenous books will not only ensure the availability of relevant books in
diverse subject areas that take cognisance of our local environment and
sensitivities, it would also safeguard national pride.
is expected that nurturing the culture of quality authorship and the production
of indigenous books will not only ensure the availability of relevant books in
diverse subject areas that take cognisance of our local environment and
sensitivities, it would also safeguard national pride.
“While
it is true that foreign books are helpful, indigenous book industry is needed to provide opportunities for the nation’s writers , thinkers and
artists.
it is true that foreign books are helpful, indigenous book industry is needed to provide opportunities for the nation’s writers , thinkers and
artists.
“The
gross insufficiency of standard tertiary level literature in our libraries and
bookshops further underscore the urgent need to come up with targeted
strategies to encourage production of textbooks for our tertiary institutions,” Bogoro said.
gross insufficiency of standard tertiary level literature in our libraries and
bookshops further underscore the urgent need to come up with targeted
strategies to encourage production of textbooks for our tertiary institutions,” Bogoro said.
He
assured the technical group that to ensure adequate production of indigenous
academic textbooks, and in line with the
mandate of the Fund, the Board of Trustees
(BOT) of the Fund had approved N2bn for Book Development Fund, even as
additional seed of N2.9bn had been added
to the initial grant to make it N4.9bn,
out of which N2.6bn had been utilised
for the intended purpose.
assured the technical group that to ensure adequate production of indigenous
academic textbooks, and in line with the
mandate of the Fund, the Board of Trustees
(BOT) of the Fund had approved N2bn for Book Development Fund, even as
additional seed of N2.9bn had been added
to the initial grant to make it N4.9bn,
out of which N2.6bn had been utilised
for the intended purpose.
He
stressed that the book development fund will intervene in three areas namely,
development and publication of academic books and the conversion of theses into
books; support for professional association journals, and the establishment and
sustainability of Academic Publishing Centres (APC).
stressed that the book development fund will intervene in three areas namely,
development and publication of academic books and the conversion of theses into
books; support for professional association journals, and the establishment and
sustainability of Academic Publishing Centres (APC).
He
said APC would be constructed in at least one university in the six
geopolitical regions and the FCT. He
said University of Calabar will represent the South-south, FUT Minna, for Northcentral,
UniMaid for North east, UDUS for Northwest, Unizik for Southeast and uniLag for
Southwest, while Uniabuja will serve the FCT.
said APC would be constructed in at least one university in the six
geopolitical regions and the FCT. He
said University of Calabar will represent the South-south, FUT Minna, for Northcentral,
UniMaid for North east, UDUS for Northwest, Unizik for Southeast and uniLag for
Southwest, while Uniabuja will serve the FCT.
The
TAG’s terms of reference include: harvesting doctorate theses and master’s
dissertations from across beneficiary institutions for conversion into books;
screen proposals on manuscripts and theses/dissertations for development into
academic textbooks; recommend reviewers for screened manuscripts and
theses/dissertations, among others.
TAG’s terms of reference include: harvesting doctorate theses and master’s
dissertations from across beneficiary institutions for conversion into books;
screen proposals on manuscripts and theses/dissertations for development into
academic textbooks; recommend reviewers for screened manuscripts and
theses/dissertations, among others.