The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Kayode Adebowale, has praised research teams from various university departments for winning the TETFUND Institutional Based Research Awards and securing the China-Nigeria Joint Laboratory Project for Soil and Water Conservation, as well as the Agricultural Sustainable Development Grant.

The commendation came during an award presentation ceremony held in honour of the researchers.

Professor Adebowale lauded the teams for upholding the legacy of academic excellence at UI, assuring that the university management will continue to encourage staff to engage deeply in research activities that keep the institution among Nigeria’s top universities.

“A university is not merely defined by its buildings but by its groundbreaking research,” the Vice Chancellor emphasized. He noted that academic staff must remain actively involved in research to maintain the university’s leading position.

He highlighted UI’s contribution to the growth and establishment of other Nigerian universities through its alumni, experts, scholars, innovations, and human capital.

Professor Adebowale reiterated the university’s vision to transition into a predominantly postgraduate institution where cutting-edge research drives local and international societal impact.

Recognizing the importance of continuity in research, he stressed that senior and junior researchers are vital to sustaining academic excellence.

He called for stronger mentor-mentee collaborations to cultivate the next generation of researchers, noting UI’s commitment to fostering such relationships.

The Vice Chancellor also pointed out that Africa, endowed with rich human capital and natural resources, has the potential to lead global development. UI’s research collaborations are therefore strategically focused on advancing the continent.

He encouraged researchers to fully leverage institutional research grants and to prioritize interdisciplinary and inter-faculty collaborations to spark breakthroughs.

Earlier, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN, described research as the engine of innovation that solves global challenges.

She applauded the awardees for their hard work and for positioning UI as a trailblazer in innovation and development.

Among the award recipients, Professor Odutola Oshunsanya from the Department of Soil Science Resource Management and his team were honoured for their work on the China-Nigeria Joint Laboratory Project for Soil and Water Conservation and Agricultural Sustainable Development.