Varsities can’t toy with quality researches —Ambali

The vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, says that Nigerian universities cannot afford to toy with the mandate of carrying out quality researches towards solving national problems.

Professor Ambali stated this last Tuesday while addressing a gathering of seasoned academics from several universities across the country who had gathered at the Old Senate Chambers of the University of Ilorin for a Grantsmanship Workshop, aimed at boosting research development and capabilities in Nigeria.

Declaring the workshop open, Professor Ambali, who was represented by the deputy vice chancellor (Academics), Professor. N. Y. S. Ijaiya, explained that research is a mandate that cannot be taken for granted.

He pointed out that what makes a university is its contribution to knowledge, underscoring the need for universities to carry out ground-breaking researches.

“At this moment in our national life, opportunities exist for academics to obtain grants, even though it is not an easy task, as it is not every proposal that receives it,” he noted.

He noted that writing good research proposals, which will attract grants from local, national as well as international sources requires “knowledge, skills and experience,” adding that the “workshop provides opportunities to rub minds with those who are experienced in this matter.”

While urging the participants to share the knowledge gained at the workshop with their colleagues in order to benefit everyone, he noted that UNILORIN is open to partnerships, Memoranda of Understanding with other institutions in order to boost research development and add value to the society.

In his remarks, the deputy vice chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovations), Professor Gabriel Olatunji, said that research has “gone beyond cubicle research,” stressing  that the trend now is for partnership and consortium research groups, which are more competitive in order to advance the frontiers of research knowledge and win huge research grants.

Earlier in his address, the director of the Centre for Research Development and In-House Training (CREDIT), Professor B. S. Alabi, whose centre organised the event, said that the workshop was in accordance with the university’s tripartite mandate of teaching, research and community service.

Professor Alabi expressed appreciation to the vice chancellor and his management team for the “unflinching financial and other supports” to CREDIT, and commended the efforts of staff of the centre, saying: “This is an uncommon commitment to our centres and indeed the university’s mission and vision.”