Six university lecturers get N8m from British Council

Six lecturers from Nigerian Universities have been awarded 33,090 pounds (N8.6million ) as Research Travel Grants to the United Kingdom by the British Council in Nigeria.

Mr Desmond Omovie, Communications and Marketing Manager of the Council in Nigeria, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) an interview on Wednesday in Lagos that  the fund  was t o take care of the recipients’ travel, visas, insurance, accommodation and subsistence costs.

He  sa id that the recipients would be visiting and undertaking their projects between 2014 and 2015.

He said that the grant would assist the lecturers to undertake an international research placement to strengthen links for future collaboration with U.K. universities.

Omovie sa id the development would also build research capacity in Nigeria and enhance the researchers’ career opportunities.

“Research collaboration is essential for the global knowledge economy, and it has been shown that internationally mobile researchers tend to be more productive.

“Furthermore, a shared research interest can help to build trust and relationships between people from very different backgrounds and cultures.

“It is in this regard that we are taking advantage of this position as an intercultural relations organisation with global expertise in higher education, to awarded research travel grants to six university lecturers in Nigeria for research.

“This will require them to visits and partner with UK universities under the Researcher Links programme,” he said.

Omovie said that among the beneficiaries are Prof. Benjamin Aribisala of the University of Lagos, who would be visiting the  Heriot-Watt University in the U.K..

Dr Temitope Omolola of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, would be visiting University of Southampton.

Others are Dr Ayodeji Johnson of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, who would be visiting University of Nothingham for the research collaboration.

Others are Dr Athanasius Manji of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola to visit Bangor University and Dr Taiwo Bamigboye of the Obafemi Awolowo University, to visit University of Bradford.

Omovie said that Prof. Murtala Sagagi of the Bayero University Kano, would also benefit from the grant and would be visiting the University of Wolverhampton. (NAN)

He said that the council would continue to partner with Nigeria in the development of its education sector and the country in general, as part of its contribution to improve standard of living in Africa. (NAN)