By Mu'azu Hassan
@ katsina Times
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arch. Sonny S. T. Echono, has commended the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura (FUTD), Professor Umar Adam Katsayal, mni, for 1his commitment to transforming the young institution into a centre of scholarly research and academic excellence.
Echono gave the commendation on Monday, October 19, 2026, during the International Exit Conference of the Trans-Saharan Trade Research Project held at the TETFund Auditorium, TETFund Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja.
Represented by Dr. Comfort Ochepo, the TETFund Executive Secretary expressed satisfaction with the successful completion of the research initiative, describing it as an example of the kind of rigorous academic work the fund was established to support.
He said the project demonstrated how research could address important policy questions and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Echono particularly praised Professor Katsayal's leadership, noting that FUTD had shown that a young, specialised university could go beyond technical training to become a centre for advanced scholarship and research.
According to him, the university's involvement in examining the historical dynamics of Trans-Saharan trade demonstrated its capacity to engage with complex historical, economic and policy issues relevant to Africa's development.
He urged government ministries and agencies represented at the conference to study the research findings and explore ways of incorporating relevant recommendations into their policy frameworks.
The TETFund chief stressed that research findings should not be treated merely as academic exercises or ceremonial achievements but should serve as practical tools for informed decision-making.
He called on policymakers to critically examine the conclusions, compare them with existing data and practical experiences, and identify recommendations that could be implemented to improve public policy and development outcomes.
Echono noted that researchers who invest considerable time and resources in producing evidence-based studies deserve serious engagement from government institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
He said such engagement would help bridge the gap between academic research and policymaking, ensuring that knowledge generated in universities translates into practical benefits for society.
TETFund Pledges Support for Publication
The Executive Secretary also commended the research team leader, Professor Yakubu Aboki Ocheifu, and other members of the team for their contributions to the successful completion of the project.
He observed that the quality of the research reflected intellectual discipline, methodological rigour and a genuine commitment to advancing knowledge.
Echono further expressed TETFund's readiness to support the publication of the final edited volume of the research project.
He explained that publishing and widely distributing the findings would enable the research to reach a broader audience, including academics, government policymakers, development partners and intellectual leaders across Africa.
The proposed publication is expected to help extend the impact of the research beyond academic circles and promote discussions on the relevance of historical trade networks to contemporary African economic development.
The International Exit Conference brought together researchers and relevant stakeholders to examine the findings of the project, discuss their policy implications and consider ways of applying the lessons of historical Trans-Saharan trade to modern transportation systems, regional integration and economic cooperation.
The commendation further highlights TETFund's role in supporting research and innovation in Nigeria's higher education sector, as well as FUTD's growing contribution to scholarship in transportation, history and development studies.
By Umar Usman
Chief Information and Communications Officer
Federal University of Transportation, Daura
October 20, 2026
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