FUTA, Ondo tertiary institutions seek research-driven development framework

Tertiary institutions in Ondo State have called for a coordinated research and innovation framework that will link academic knowledge with government policies, industry needs and community development.

The institutions, under the Consortium of Tertiary Institutions in Ondo State (COTION), said stronger collaboration, improved funding for education and greater investment in technical skills were essential to addressing development challenges and promoting sustainable growth.

The call was made during the first international conference of COTION 2026, hosted by the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), with the theme “Smart Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Management (STEAM): A Panacea for Sustainable Development.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, FUTA Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adenike Oladiji, advocated a shift from isolated institutional research to a collaborative model that would enable tertiary institutions to pool expertise, share infrastructure and develop practical solutions to societal challenges.

She said issues such as food insecurity, climate change, energy access, environmental degradation, infrastructure deficits and public health required coordinated, interdisciplinary responses rather than the efforts of individual institutions.

Oladiji described the establishment of the consortium as a step towards institutionalising collaboration, innovation and shared responsibility among tertiary institutions in the state.

She said: “This inaugural gathering therefore represents more than the commencement of an annual event; it is the first step towards a stronger culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility among tertiary institutions in Ondo State.”

She urged universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to strengthen joint research, staff and student exchanges, and partnerships with government agencies, the private sector and host communities to ensure that research outcomes informed policies and delivered measurable development benefits.

According to her, the STEAM approach offers a framework for combining scientific and technological advances with creativity, human-centred thinking and effective management to address real-world problems.

The keynote speaker and former Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Prof Olufemi Mimiko, identified inadequate government funding as a major constraint on the education sector and called for increased public investment.

He also advocated stronger emphasis on technical education and closer engagement between educational institutions and industry professionals to bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace demands.

“Nigeria’s education is not doing well because the government is not funding it properly. The government should invest more in education. Also, technical aspects of education should be taken seriously,” he said.

Mimiko said exposing students to professionals with practical experience would improve their skills and better prepare them for employment and productive engagement.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Prof Sesan Ayodeji, said COTION was conceived in 2024 through the vision of the FUTA Vice-Chancellor, with 13 heads of institutions embracing the initiative in 2025, leading to the consortium’s first colloquium.

He said the platform was designed to promote research cooperation, facilitate the sharing of facilities and expertise, strengthen links between academia and industry, and provide opportunities for young researchers.

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Ayodeji disclosed that more than 100 participants joined the conference physically and virtually from institutions within and outside Nigeria.

He urged participants to convert discussions into actionable commitments, including joint research programmes, institutional partnerships and practical interventions.

“Let us not leave this conference with only a communiqué; instead, let us leave with concrete collaborations, joint research plans and practical solutions that will make a real difference in Ondo State, in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

The three-day conference features keynote lectures, technical sessions, panel discussions and research presentations on agriculture, food security, energy, water resources, environmental sustainability, infrastructure, healthcare, industrial development and digital transformation.