Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBU), has officially opened the 2025 National Research Fund (NRF) Grantmanship Workshop, with a call on academics to embrace innovation, collaboration, and competitiveness in research.
Declaring the workshop open, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, described the event as a defining moment in the collective pursuit of knowledge, research excellence, and national development. He noted that the NRF initiative of TETFund has continued to drive cutting-edge, solution-oriented research across Nigeria.
Professor Sulaiman urged participants to take full advantage of the training, which is designed to build skills in proposal development, grant writing, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He reaffirmed IBBU’s commitment to fostering a vibrant research culture that enhances global visibility and competitiveness.
The Vice Chancellor commended the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna (AKUM), for his international contributions to research funding and capacity building. He also appreciated the Visitor to the University, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, for his support in hosting the programme, while acknowledging the efforts of the Directorate of Research and Development, facilitators, and management team in making the workshop a success.
Speaking earlier, the Coordinating Director of Research and Development, Professor Folorunso Alimi Lawal, explained that the capacity-building workshop was aimed at equipping scholars with the skills needed to secure competitive research funding.
He described the initiative as timely, noting that in today’s knowledge-driven world, grant writing is indispensable for researchers seeking to drive development and transformation. The workshop, he said, was carefully designed to provide practical tools, strategies, and insights to navigate the complexities of grant proposal development.
Professor Lawal expressed confidence that the knowledge gained would empower participants to secure funding and deliver groundbreaking solutions to local and global challenges.
He commended the Vice Chancellor and management for their strong support, and applauded the dedication of facilitators, deans, directors, heads of departments, and distinguished professors present.
He encouraged participants to actively engage, ask questions, and share experiences, stressing that strengthening IBBU’s research capacity would not only boost the institution’s visibility but also make a lasting impact on academic growth and societal development.
The workshop is expected to feature intensive sessions designed to empower researchers to secure both local and international grants, positioning IBBU as a stronger contributor to knowledge, innovation, and sustainable development.
