Senior academic leaders and researchers in Nigeria have been urged to embrace sustainable innovation and forge strategic global partnerships as a pathway to unlocking research funding and accelerating Africa’s development.
Head of Africa Strategic Partnerships at Lancaster University, United Kingdom, Dr Akanimo Odon made the call during an International Workshop on Resource Mobilisation and Grantsmanship, held over the weekend at the Aderemi Makanjuola Lecture Theatre, Lagos State University (LASU) Main Campus, Ojo, Lagos.
The workshop, organised by the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Oseni Afisi, brought together Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, and members of the university’s research clusters to explore fresh strategies for enhancing research impact through international collaboration.
Dr Odon in his address, highlighted the vast economic potential of the green economy, citing a World Bank report which estimated the current global market for low-carbon products at $3.4 trillion, with projections to exceed $8 trillion by 2025. He urged African institutions to position themselves strategically to tap into this opportunity through innovation and strategic alignment.
Referencing the success of enterprise-led research in the UK, Dr Odon noted that Lancaster University’s SME-supported research model delivers a £5.50 return for every £1 invested - a figure expected to grow to £10.20 by 2026, significantly outperforming the UK national average.
He introduced the “Escalator of Innovation” model, designed to connect businesses with academic research through internships, cluster workshops, and postgraduate projects. He also stressed the urgency of addressing Africa’s core development challenges - such as poverty and gender inequality - by fostering inclusive, cross-sectoral partnerships.
“Think like funders,” Dr Odon advised researchers. He emphasised the importance of crafting grant proposals as compelling narratives with clearly defined goals, a visible pathway to impact, and strong institutional or industrial partnerships. He also encouraged alignment with the funding body's priorities to improve chances of success.
Earlier in the workshop, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Taiwo Afisi, lauded the event as a timely and strategic initiative. She remarked that the workshop directly supports the university’s mission to build a thriving research culture and secure access to international funding.
The Vice-Chancellor described the workshop as a “masterstroke in timing”, adding that its goals align perfectly with those of the university’s 92 research clusters. “We are building viable research teams capable of attracting significant funding, producing impactful research, and offering solutions to society’s most pressing issues. By the end of 2025, I expect each of the clusters to have secured at least one major grant,” she said.
The highly interactive session concluded with a strong endorsement of the “Quadruple Helix” model - an approach that promotes collaboration between academia, industry, government, and civil society to ensure that research translates into tangible social and economic benefits.
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