Grooming Centre Nigeria, a microfinance institution, has opened its application portal for this year’s university research grant scheme for students in both public and private-owned tertiary institutions nationwide, reinforcing its commitment to rigorous educational development and poverty alleviation in the country.
Launched in 2019 as a corporate social intervention effort on education with just 25 beneficiaries, the number of beneficiaries has steadily increased and has now risen to a total of 393 at the HND, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree levels in five years.
Speaking at a news conference to announce the commencement of submission of applications for this year’s edition in Lagos on Tuesday, the Head of Project, Grooming Centre Nigeria, Mr Egulefu Chikezie, declared that the annual non-refundable grant aims to encourage and boost evidence-based research activities and knowledge among tertiary school students in critical economic areas that include social enterprise, microfinance, inclusive finance, rural development, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), women in development, and other areas that aim at lifting people out of poverty.
The research proposals must be relevant to the Nigerian context, demonstrate practical innovation, and promote the specified areas of interest.
Egulefu said the bank, which has also given out scholarship grants to about 3,000 senior secondary school students under another platform called “Lady Kate Scholarship Scheme,” believes that so many university students in the country would want to carry out research on problem-solved issues that are impactful to the economy but have no money, hence the purpose of the research grants to support them.
He noted that 150 students (100 undergraduates and 50 postgraduates) are expected to benefit from the 2024 grants, urging students to start submitting their proposals.
Giving insights into the modality, the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the scheme, Mr Alex Ajibo, emphasised the need for originality and data inclusiveness in the research.
Eligible applicants must be students at NUC/NBTE-approved Nigerian universities or polytechnics and submit a written recommendation from their project supervisor.
Proposals should be eight to 25 pages, including an introduction, a literature review, research methodology, and the candidate’s personal profile.
On her part, Ms. Ler Jonathan-Khaver, a member of the Governing Council of the Grooming Centre, officially declared the edition open, saying students have until September 20 to submit their research proposals.
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