University of Osun Dons Receive $9.3m Grant for Research.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Two Professors of Osun State University have formed a research consortium with Bradford University on the project “AfriquEurope”.
This was revealed in a statement issued by the University Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, at the weekend.

The statement read in part: “Osun State University’s Director of Global Affairs and Sustainable Development Institute (GASDI), Prof. John Agbonifo and the Director of the Office of Research and Innovation Management (ORIM), Prof. Olukoya Ogen, have formed a research consortium with Prof. Jean-Marc
Trouille of Bradford University, to carry out a research titled ‘The European Union and Africa in a Multi Crises World.’

The project is funded by the ERASMUS-JMO-2023-NETWORKS-HEI-NON-EU-AFRICA to the tune of €7,800,000 ($9.3 million).

Agbonifo is a key facilitator of the project, while Ogen is the Project Financial Signatory.

Speaking on the grant, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. ‘Ayo Clement Adebooye, stated: “It was part of my mission statement when I applied for this job to encourage and proliferate research works amongst the university staff in order to proffer solutions to global problems.

” I am happy that this is gradually being fulfilled, and this year alone, we have won over $2 million  in grants. In total, therefore, UNIOSUN has raked in a total of $12 million in 2023 alone.

“We are proud of our researchers. This latest grant is another milestone in our research and global visibility agenda. I believe that in the not-too-distant-future, we would be among universities with the highest grants won in this part of the world.

“AfriquEurope is the largest Jean Monnet network of its kind, and the largest academic network in terms of its number of participating institutions and the
number of countries represented across Africa and Europe.

“It will also provide a framework for a unique cooperation between universities and think-tanks on matters relevant to Africans and Europeans.
“The aim of the ‘AfriquEurope’ Network is to support the EU’s effort to recalibrate its partnership with Africa, whilst advocating closer cooperation between the two continents.”

He congratulated Agbonifo and Ogen on behalf of Senate, management, staff and students of the university.