Following their applications for research grants to donor organisations, several university academics were awarded over N3 billion in grants in 2023, according to Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah, vice chancellor of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja).
Na’allah revealed this in Abuja during the awards event for authors and researchers, which took place on the university’s main campus.
He claimed that the N3 billion donation in 2023 was a major improvement above the N1 billion awarded in 2022. The VC then encouraged the institution’s top researchers to spread the word about their experiences in order to attract further researchers.
“When you have information on grants, share it with others so that more people can participate, this will help the university produce more grant-winning researchers.
“There is no world-class university if there are no world scholars; we must continue to show this nation that a world-class university is achievable and we have achieved it.
“We have made over N3 billion in research grants this year; we are making a mark and we are determined as a university that whatever it will take, we must move forward,” he said.
Na’allah called on scholars to think of how to solve the problems in the nation such as insecurity and leadership among others, through their research work
He added that the university will soon open a youth leadership clinic and stated that it is leading the charge in finding solutions to the leadership problem.
He claimed that the clinic would assist in educating and preparing the next generation of Nigerian leaders.
The don gave the researchers his word that the university would not let them down as they worked to further establish the university’s reputation through the research funding.
He counselled authors to make sure that originality is their primary goal and to be creative by coining new phrases for their works.
Under the researchers’ cadre, seven persons won gold, two silver and 45 bronze while in the authors cadre, eight persons won gold, nine silver and 27 bronze.
Professor Obiageli Nnodu, the director of the UNIABUJA Centre for Sponsored Projects (CSP), had stated that the vice chancellor introduced the centre in 2020.
Nnodu, while appreciating the VC, said that the centre which started small had grown into something big.
She added that the researcher category was generating more revenue and that this revenue was contributing considerably to the university’s overall revenue.
On behalf of the other awardees, one of the recipients, Dr. Dike Orji, expressed gratitude to the university and the vice chancellor for their support of all scholars and researchers.
According to Orji, the awardees will keep working hard to ensure that the university’s research portfolio expanded.