Former OAU VC Advocates University Transformation to Drive National Devt

Funmi Ogundare

A former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and current President of the Pan-African Society for Agricultural Engineering, Prof. Michael Faborode, yesterday called on Nigerian universities to redefine their role in national development by aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa Agenda 2063. 

He made this known at the 18th annual scientific conference of OAU’s Faculty of Dentistry with the theme: ‘Innovation and Collaboration in Research for Sustainable Development’, and sub-theme: ‘Bridging the Gap between Dentistry and other Disciplines’.

Faborode called for a transformation of traditional universities into entrepreneurial hubs.

He said it is important to organise groups into multi-disciplinary teams, develop blueprints/strategic plans and implementation plans, and establish special purpose vehicles (including technology parks, innovation hubs, incubation centres, etc) for research output uptake and diffusion.

Other efforts , he noted, included instigating international and national collaborations with other universities, in line with the SDG 17, establishing Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Marketing and Communication Directorates for the transformed universities, to monitor research grants, patents, publications and products of research outcomes, commercialisation through business incubation from start-ups to spin-offs, licensing similar to the database of Association of University of Technology Managers ( AUTM), and preparing annual reports.

“There is also the need to implement elements of Education 4.0 by mainstreaming the SDGs/Africa agenda 2063 into the curriculum and the research agenda to produce graduates who are fit for Industry 4.0; organise extra-curricular industry programmes including start-up certification academies

The former VC suggested restructuring research frameworks through the appointment of Deputy Vice Chancellors for Research, Innovation, and Development, along with implementing research policies and establishing innovation hubs, technology parks, and incubation centres. 

According to him, “Universities must shift focus from poverty management to fostering innovation and wealth creation, which requires strengthening research output and producing skilled graduates.”

Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Temitope Esan, highlighted the inefficiency of isolated research efforts, urging universities to prioritise collaborative research to tackle complex national issues and achieve global recognition. He warned that Nigeria’s development is tied to the quality of its researchers and emphasized addressing challenges such as inadequate funding, poor remuneration, and the ‘Japa’ brain drain phenomenon. 

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Banire, acknowledged staff shortages but assured stakeholders that recruitment plans are underway.

He emphasised the importance of writing competitive grant proposals and fostering collaborations with ministries and agencies to secure funding and enhance institutional capacity. 

Chief Medical Director of OAU Teaching Hospital, Prof. John Okeniyi, stated that collaborative research fosters peer review and quality improvement, ensuring impactful results. 

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the conference, Dr. Adewale Adejobi, noted that the theme was apt because global development and technological advancement is driven by innovative and collaborative research.