Gbenro Adesina
The Vice Chancellor of the, University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka has revealed that the institution currently has more than 100 funded research collaborations.
According to him, UI remains the first choice of researchers seeking collaboration from within Nigeria and those outside Nigeria working in Africa due to her front line research profile.
This was contained in the virtual speech of the Vice Chancellor to mark the 10-year anniversary of the establishment of the Research Management Office (RMO) of the Premier University.
Olayinka, who identified funding and ICT infrastructure challenges in the management of research, hinted that the University has entered into partnership agreement with some companies for laboratory supplies with rebate to improve access laboratory quality and cost effective supplies
He said, “I am happy to say that the UI RMO has been providing technical support to sister institutions to establish their research management offices across the country. Currently, it is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, research management office among the Nigeria universities, with 25 Research Administrators (RAs) and a Director. The RAs are constantly exposed to on-the-job trainings and workshops, locally and internationally. Because of the importance the University attaches to research, UI is the first university in Nigeria to establish the office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor,(Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships) (DVC RISP) which oversees the RMO as one of its functions to strengthen research process”.
“The RMO has added value to the university research profile through increase in research collaborations, new research initiatives, responses to calls for proposals, improved University/Industry relationships and research uptakes. Presently, more than 100 funded research collaborations are on-going in the university. The university now has partnership agreement with some companies for laboratory supplies with rebate to improve access laboratory quality and cost effective supplies”, he added.
The Director of UI Research Management Office (RMO), Professor Ayodele Samuel Jegede stressed that adequate funding of research management and improved ICT infrastructure would drive development in Nigeria.
According to him, research funding and its management must be properly organised and managed in Nigeria’s higher institutions of learning if Nigeria is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He pointed out, “The importance of research in national development is widely acknowledged. Research being a major component of the role of university system places the university strategically to drive development. Therefore, the university as the incubator for research and innovation is the engine room for national development. If Nigeria will achieve the millennium Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) research must be properly organized and managed in our higher educational institutions”.
