Barring any last-minute’s adjustment, the deadline for the submission of responses for proposals on the Telecommunications-Based Research Innovation from Academics in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions expires Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
Under the arrangement, research teams that have already submitted their proposals and wish to update, sequel to the addendum, are permitted to do so.
However, such new submission, according to Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) must include a letter withdrawing the earlier submission.
According to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, the initiative speaks to the Commission’s commitment towards encouraging the development of indigenous innovative solutions that impact not only the Telecom industry/ICT sector positively but also the nation as a whole.
“We want to continuously support research projects that can lead to the development of new products and services in the industry as the key enabler of the nation’s digital economy”.
Information obtained from the Commission’s website explained that the Telecommunications-based research Innovations from the Academics in the Nigerian Tertiary Institutions programme is designed to among others achieve the following:
“Feasible Research ideas, capable of replacing or enhancing foreign technologies in the telecommunications ecosystem in Nigeria i.e development of indigenous content in sector factor
Support development of capacity in the tertiary institutions (researching on emerging technologies ) and promote Nigeria’s contribution to the pool of technologies in use in the Communications industry
“Viable prototypes commercialisation should result in spin-off companies, creating wealth for the tertiary institutions and job opportunities for the students that worked on the projects.
“The programme is part of the Nigerian Communications Commission’s agenda for enhancing indigenous content and ensuring “industry-ready” graduates for sustainable development of the Nigerian telecommunications industry.
“The published research proposal outline included sections on Evidence of Local Content Realization up to Prototype Stage and, Relevance to the Telecom and related Industry.
“The Research Grant is awarded to the Tertiary Institutions and therefore paid into the Tertiary Institution’s nominated account. The institution will disburse the Grant to the Lead Researcher of each team.
“Each research would lead to the development of a prototype that must be submitted to the Nigerian Communications Commission at the end of each project.
“All other information in the original advertisements of July 5, 2021 remains valid“.
