OOU Hosts Research Commercialisation Workshop with Dr. Obichi Obiajunwa

Mary Nnah

Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), on Wednesday 13th November 2024, hosted a university-wide workshop focused on advancing research commercialisation, a key step toward economic growth, and addressing Nigeria’s unemployment challenges.
Declaring the workshop open, the chief host and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Olayinka Johnson Agboola emphasised the transformative role of innovation in solving societal challenges and creating job opportunities. “Innovation is the key to solving Nigeria’s unemployment issues,” he stated, commending OOU’s progress in cutting-edge research and infrastructure development. The event saw attendance from senior faculty members, deans, and prominent university officials, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, Prof. Olatundun Abosede Oderinde.

The event’s host, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Prof. Laoye John Abidemi, spoke on the broader impact of commercialisation. “It’s not just about bringing new products to market; it’s about solving pressing global challenges, improving lives, and driving economic growth,” Prof. Abidemi noted.

Dr. Obichi Obiajunwa, a distinguished innovation expert and public health physician, was the workshop’s guest speaker. Dr. Obiajunwa, founder of Hutzpa Innovations, is well-regarded for his expertise in translating research into viable business solutions. His extensive work includes leading the Research Commercialisation and Acceleration Programme (RECAP) in various Nigerian universities, such as Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Port Harcourt, among others. Through TETFund’s Research for Impact Initiative, he has also trained over 600 lecturers from public universities and polytechnics across Nigeria. Dr. Obiajunwa’s pioneering efforts in the innovation ecosystem include establishing the Young Innovation Leaders (YIL) Fellowship, which has equipped over 2,000 young professionals from over 25 African countries with skills in innovative problem-solving.

During the RECAP workshop, Dr. Obiajunwa introduced critical concepts aimed at empowering researchers to move from “bench to business.”
His session was interactive, dividing participants into three working groups: one to create commercialisation roadmaps for their research concepts, another to develop strategies for guiding students in research commercialisation of their academic projects, and the third to design institutional policies to foster innovation within the university. This hands-on approach gave both lecturers and the many students in attendance a unique opportunity to explore practical strategies to take research beyond academic settings.

Dr. Obiajunwa’s extensive contributions to Nigeria’s innovation landscape have earned him numerous accolades, including two consecutive recognition awards from the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria for his role as inaugural programme manager of the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (I-FAIR). His academic background – an MPH from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MBA focused on Innovation and Venture Creation from Tel Aviv University and the George Washington University – supports his ongoing contributions to research commercialisation and economic development.

The RECAP workshop concluded with a renewed commitment from OOU faculty to apply the insights gained, positioning the university as a leading institution in transforming research into sustainable, market-driven solutions that contribute to Nigeria’s growth.