The National Assembly has promised to look into the issue of non-inclusion of the Monotechnic as beneficiaries of the Tertiary Education Trust FUND and other related matters.
Senator Yunus Akintunde gave the assurance in response to the requests of the Provost of the Federal College of Forest, Ibadan, Dr. Ibrahim Lawal, at the 85th Anniversary of the Institute on Thursday in Ibadan.
He said the matter would be tabled on the floor of the Senate for consideration.
Akintunde submitted that in as much as the federal government is ready to play its role in supporting the institute to achieve its set goal, the management should look inward on how to generate revenue.
According to him, “Some of the issues bothering on funding as presented by the Provost will be tabled on the floor of the Senate for consideration.
Earlier in his address, the Provost, Lawal, requested more funding for the Institute to carry out research on various fields that would be of immense benefit to the nation.
According to him, FRIN has the potential to contribute meaningfully to efforts at mitigating climate change, controlling the hazards of flooding, and reducing the cost of medicines through scientifically researched and controlled herbal preparations using none timber forest products, thereby boosting the economy and health sector.
“However, one major drawback to the achievement is inadequate funding, noting that cutting-edge research requires a heavy dose of funding.
“I wish to state that the college has been and is still being funded by the federal government through budgetary allocation, and the college will always be very appreciative as the government has never slacked in this responsibility.
“However, we must all agree that the government cannot do this alone. Hence the reason the government, in its wisdom, created the Education Trust Fund (ETF), now the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, to help pool funds for the furtherance of research and teaching at our higher education level.
“I wish to reiterate that the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan, under FRIN has benefitted from ETF now TETFUND in years past.
“This was, however, discontinued about well over a decade ago. This has certainly slowed down the college’s research and teaching activities as well as infrastructural development.”
Also in his address, the Oyo state Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, has implored the Federal Government to put in place necessary mechanisms that would promote continuous tree planting systems and other environmental health practices to address challenges of flooding and environmental degradation.
This is as he stressed the need for people to help nature, so nature could in turn help the people.
Lawal also cautioned against indiscriminate felling of trees, urging Nigerians to be circumspect with regard to the treatment of the nation’s forest if stakeholders intended to explore the benefit of the sector to provide pharmaceutical support.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abass Lawal, in his address, reiterated the commitment of the government to environmental protection and sustainable development.
His words, “We recognise the importance of education and research in achieving these goals. As such, we are investing in programmes that support forestry education and research initiatives.
“Also, plans are ongoing to upgrade the Federal College of Forestry in Ibadan and Jos into a degree-awarding institute. Together, we can develop policies that promote sustainable practices while ensuring the livelihoods of communities that depend on”
Also, the Director General of FRIN, Dr. Zacharia Bubba Yaduma, lauded the contribution of the institute to the agricultural sector.
He disclosed that the institute, established in 1939, has trained over ten thousand students in forestry and agriculture-related courses, of which some of them are now captains of industries, directors general of relevant agencies, directors of forestry and agriculture at the state and federal levels, academia, consultants, and those occupying high-ranking positions in international organisations (UNESCO, UNDP, FAO, WORLD Bank, IFAD), and a host of other places not only in Nigeria but in Cameroun, Liberia, Gambia, and Sierra Leone.
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