The Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, has secured funds amounting to over N70m from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to conduct Institution-based Research (IBR) and execute advance research in different areas of specialization, in order to proffer solutions to state and national problems.

The polytechnic has taken a new lease of life under the leadership of the rector, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, who places research and innovation at the heart of his reform agenda.

In the early days, Prof. Falodun heeded the charge by Governor Godwin Obaseki to place the institution on the global map with an internationalization policy, leading to securing of international grant running into millions of naira from Carleton University and the Canadian Government for a Gendered Design in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) project.

The latest funding from TETFund covers cost for 28 research projects across various disciplines, in addition to production two books written by lecturers in the polytechnic – the first time the institution is securing funding for book development in its over 20 years history.

According to the rector, “We have two more books being considered for publication, which is a major milestone. TETFund has also considered and approved a new journal (Edo State Polytechnic Journal of Business and Public administration). TETFund will fully fund the journal, as part of strategies to disseminate research findings, and make the institution visible.”

The rector added that “Six academic staff have benefited from the grant-writing training on EU research grants, including The University of Cambridge, UK, The University of Turku, Finland.”

Some of the research projects supported include Examining the potential use of laterite soil in Nigeria as a fine-aggregate replacement in an effort to reduce construction cost by Ehigiamusoe Uhunoma; Feasibility study and characterization of Usen River Hydropower for generation of electricity/hydroelectricity by Engr. Dr. Asikhia Obhokia Kess and Geophysical and contamination investigation of soil spatial distribution for sustainable agriculture in Usen, Ovia South-West LGA, Nigeria by Dr. Enoma Nosakhare.

Others are Preliminary Identification and Phytochemical Screening of Nigerian Medicinal Plants Against Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) by Prof. Abiodun Falodun; Experimental Investigation of the mean Solar Energy Potential in a semi-arid climate condition. Case study of Usen Community by Idemudia Omorodion Willams and An experimental investigation of optical and properties of semi-conducting zinc sulphide (Zns) Thin Film Prepared by Chemical Bath Disposition Technique for Solar Energy Plications by Dr. Cedric Oviawe Isoken.