IBBUL Unveils ₦77m NRF-Funded Research Projects on Cholera Prevention, Lithium Exploration

The Management of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), has unveiled two National Research Fund (NRF) projects worth over ₦77 million targeting cholera prevention and sustainable lithium exploration in Nigeria.

The projects are funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) under the NRF grant and won by two Associate Professors of the University, Hussaini Majiya and Yusuf Usman Tanko.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Aliyu Bello Muhammad, reaffirmed the University's commitment to research excellence and impactful research capable of addressing critical national challenges.

Professor Sulaiman disclosed this at a research workshop organised by the Centre for Research and Development to showcase the two grant-winning projects.

He described the feat as significant, noting that out of 12 research concept groups from the University invited for the NRF interview stage, two emerged successful.

According to him, IBBUL, though a 20-year-old state-owned University, has built a strong reputation for research nationally and beyond, expressing optimism that the institution would secure at least six grants in the next NRF cycle.

The Two Research Projects

Presenting his project, Associate Professor Hussaini Majiya said his research titled Development of a National Groundwater Risk Assessment Framework for Informed Public Health Policy towards Ending Recurrent Cholera Outbreaks in Nigeria seeks to develop a scientifically validated framework to assess groundwater contamination and guide public health policy.

The project, funded with about ₦49 million and to run for 22 months, will cover 46 communities in 16 Local Government Areas identified as cholera hotspots across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.

He said the study will involve risk assessment of 1,120 groundwater sources, collection and analysis of 3,360 water samples, focus group discussions, design thinking workshops and stakeholder consultations.

On his part, Associate Professor Yusuf Usman Tanko said his project titled Developing Smart Geoscientific Strategies to Assess Strategic Lithium Deposits in Nigeria as a Catalyst for Clean Energy Leadership and Sustainable Development aims to establish internationally benchmarked frameworks for exploration and sustainable management of lithium deposits.

The project, funded at about ₦28 million, will cover selected areas in Niger, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Nasarawa and Bauchi States and involve experts in geosciences, environmental and biological sciences, socio-economic research and predictive modelling.

Earlier, the Director of the Centre for Research and Development, Professor Folorunso Alimi Lawal, described the NRF as one of Nigeria's flagship research initiatives, adding that IBBUL has consistently maintained a strong record in winning competitive grants.

Stakeholders including the Niger State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria, and the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria commended IBBUL and pledged collaboration for effective implementation.