OAU Institute of Ecology gets $100,000 equipment support from Seeding Labs

The Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has received an award of equipment and items worth at least $100,000 from the Seeding Labs.

This comes after the United States based organisation recently accepted the Institute into its Instrumental Access programme.

Vice–Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire signed the agreement with the Seeding Labs alongside the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, Professor Olubola Babalola.

Upon finalising the agreement, Seedings Lab welcomed the Institute to the Instrumental Access community and looked forward to collaboration through the transferee administrator/awardee and Director of the Institute, Dr Aderonke Okoya, to strengthen research and teaching capacity at the university.

Speaking on behalf of the university management, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Babalola and Dr Okoya appreciated Seeding labs for the kind gesture, assuring them of the long-term benefits on student academics.

Dr Okoya seized the opportunity to appeal for more collaborations and partnerships, adding that “the SeedingLabs award is actually a step towards the realization of the Institute I dream to leave behind.”

She said the move is in line with her rebranding agenda for Institute which will be marking its 40th Anniversary in June 2023.

Seeding Labs is a non-profit organisation, domiciled in Boston, Massachusetts. As of June 2021, its network consists of 92 institutions in 36 countries, as well as more than 170 corporate partners and supporters around the world.

Usually, a typical Instrumental Access shipment consists of 100-150 individual items of equipment, glassware, and consumables that are geared to meet the awardees’ specific needs for teaching and research.

A conservative valuation of shipments by the Seeding Labs over the last few years has been around $100,000. However, it is estimated that replacement value in the US would be three to four times higher, in the range of $300,000-$400,000.

The award is renewable for another one year under the signed agreement.