[size=14pt]Researchers unable to access billions in funds[/size]
Experts say academic researchers are not writing good enough proposals to get the money
Article | October 27, 2011 - 1:33pm | By Ibrahim Bello

Billions of naira meant for research projects in tertiary and research institutions in the country are idle because of the inability for researchers to come out with clear proposals.

Prof. Bashir Usman, the Vice Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, made this known at a two-day training workshop on writing research proposal organised by the university.

The workshop was held on Wednesday in collaboration with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in Yola.

“It was reported recently at the Education Trust Funds workshop in Kano that billions of naira are lying unaccessed because the proposal presented by our
colleagues did not meet the required standard,” Bashir said.

He acknowledged that most academic researchers in the universities faced difficulty in accessing fund for research due to their inability to write acceptable
proposals.

“It is equally a fact that most funding agencies in the country and abroad turn down
numerous research applications from our universities due to poor packaging of the
proposal and other submissions from prospective applicants,” he said.

“In this university, we submitted about 25 research proposals worth N45 million but only nine proposals, worth N8 million, was sponsored and the rest were turned
down due to poor packaging. Indeed there is need for uniformity in the format presentation of the first proposal. Also there is a need for all universities and research institutions to come together and get a universal proposal format that can win research grant that is required.”

Dr Sobi Dede, a director with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, agreed with Bashir. “Most of our universities and researchers did not get a proper access into such fund due to poor proposal writing,” he said.

He said the aim of the workshop was to encourage the researchers’ capacity in writing required and standard research proposal to promote national development.

http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/researchers-unable-access-billions-funds

In my opinion, this is particularly worrying news. How do we stimulate the creation of a knowledge-based economy and create the scientific base for indigenous technological take-off if our researchers can't even prepare proper proposals?

I'm disturbed by this.

Worrisome is d word

dinah777:

Worrisome is d word

"Worrying" is correct too, its also used as an adjective.