Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki, is set to build an advanced research laboratory for the conduct of biological analysis and other research works.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Chigozie Ogbu, disclosed this when the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, paid him a working visit in his office at Ezzangbo, the permanent site of the institution.
Ogbu, who is the former deputy governor of Ebonyi State, said the research laboratory, when completed, would be the only such lab in the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria.
He added that the lab would also serve researchers from other parts of the country, especially parts of the North Central Zone, such as Benue State, and would also serve as a source of revenue for the university.
He disclosed that TETFund was facilitating the building of the lab.
Prof. Ogbu disclosed that one of his major focuses, when he came on board, was to improve the research activities of EBSU, which, he said, made him establish a research club at the university to boost research activities.
“We have a committee that considers research proposals. Three weeks ago, about 42 lecturers submitted their research proposals. The committee screened it and I think over 20 were approved, and they have been sent to TETFund for funding,” he added.
He also disclosed: “Academic staff promoted to associate professor and professor in EBSU are almost over 100 since this administration came on board.
“We were promoting staff nominally without financial benefits due to paucity of funds, but because of the recent intervention of the visitor to the university, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who is also an alumnus of the university, we started all the promotions with the financial benefits.
“We have paid our June salary and we are preparing to pay July salary as well. Our staff are very happy this time. Promotion of staff is ongoing with the financial benefits and it’s been encouraging.”
Continuing, he said: “TETfund has been so helpful. We feel fulfilled with our new visitor (referring to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru), one of our own, who saw to the successful dualization of the university road, increased the salary of staff by 10 per cent, reduced the school fees by 10 per cent and increased subvention from N180 million to N280 million.”