Lift Above Poverty Organisation Institute (LAPO Institute) says it has spent N3.6 million as corporate social responsibility (CSR) to support scholarly research works in Nigerian universities.
Godwin Ehigiamusoe, chairman, governing council, LAPO Institute, made the disclosure at the recent LAPO Institute third conference on Microfinance and Enterprise Development in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Ehigiamusoe said the sum of N2.8 million was given out to 19 eligible post-graduate students as grants in both the Masters and Doctorate degree categories between 2015 and 2016.
He also disclosed that four doctorate degree students were in 2017 empowered with the sum of N200,000 each as their thesis support grants.
“It is also gratifying to note that majority of the awardees have completed their research works and have sent copies of their project to the institute’s library thus, contributing to the body of knowledge,” he said.
He said the grant programme was designed to help full-time post-graduate students meet the costs associated with completing their thesis or dissertation and to improve the quality and impact of their research.
The thesis support grant programme has recorded significant impact in the academic work of beneficiaries since in period in 2015, he said, noting that it has also helped the beneficiaries build a reputation as committed scholars and forged the connections they need to generate more opportunities even after the programme.
He further disclosed that the institute had trained over 36,000 Nigerians in basic entrepreneurship techniques, basic business management, business development services and information and communication technology skills.
He explained that access to finance remained a major challenge to most entrepreneurs, as most of the consulting and training institutes were short of funding.
He stated that the institute was leveraging its relationship with some financial institutions under the auspices of the Social Impact Fund for LAPO Institute-trained Entrepreneurs (SIFLEN) scheme to fund the business plans of its trained participants to address the challenges.
The LAPO Institute boss said the institute had provided training to services to over 13,098 participants since inception.
He expressed the institute’s determination to continue to provide capacity development programmes to states like Rivers, Delta, Kogi, Bayelsa, and some other agencies of Federal Government such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, BENIN
