A former Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Industry (BOI), Pastor Olukayode Pitan; the Director-General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Dr Seye Oyeleye; the Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Kayode Adebowale; an alumnus of UI, Prince Oluyemisi Shyllon and others, on Tuesday, called for innovations and partnerships between academia and the industry to optimise research output and to achieve national development.
They made the call during the University of Ibadan Research and Development (UIRESDEV) Fair 2024, held at the International Conference Centre of the institution, Ibadan.
The programme, which is called UI-Town Connect 2024, had the theme: “Re-focusing Research and Innovation towards Scaling-up Nigerian Brands for Commercial Value.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Adebowale, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Peter Olapegba, emphasized the importance of turning research into innovations that would result in national development.
While declaring the fair open, the VC maintained that industry players and all stakeholders must collaborate for optimum reward on research efforts.
In her speech, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships (RISP), Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose (SAN), said through research, Nigerian universities could create brands and provide solutions to problems plaguing the country.
Bamgbose said the UIRESDEV Fair Committee was entrusted with the mandate of aligning Town and Gown for revolutionary national development, by developing ways of integrating the vocabulary of the university into the daily life of the town.
The DVC said: “We must support and make Nigerian brands. One of the key missions of the University is to contribute to the transformation of society through creativity and innovation.
“It is this vision, encapsulated in a need to promote the spirit of inquiry, research, discovery and to contribute to local and global development through creativity and innovation that birthed the Research and Development Fair.”
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She added that research is the key instrument in the journey towards scaling up Nigerian brands’ commercial value, saying: “Through research, Nigerian brands have the power to create novelties, innovate, and expand the economic horizons of our dear country.
“We must cultivate strong partnerships with private and public sector entities, build connections with global research institutions, and engage policymakers to create a climate that encourages innovation and growth.”
On his part, Oyeleye of DAWN Commission said by re-focusing research efforts, fostering innovation ecosystems, and building strategic partnerships, stakeholders could better support Nigerian brands in realising their full potential.
He stated that the journey from research to marketplace readiness is not an easy one, adding that: “We must ensure that research and development are not just academic pursuits, but engines that fuel the growth of local brands.”
Presenting his paper, Pastor Pitan stated that there must be a mutual handshake between the gown and the town for all-encompassing progress.
The former UI student maintained that partnership was pivotal in achieving the expected result from research done in universities.
The former managing director reiterated that UI must take the driver’s seat in ensuring partnerships between universities and the industry.
In his remarks, Prince Shyllon, who was the chairman of the event, called for the creation of a University Technology Transfer Office for evaluating potential research works.
He also called for protection of research works and commercialization strategies for optimising research output.
He said through research, universities could generate revenue, create jobs, entrench entrepreneurship spirit in students, enhance research reputation, and entrench partnership. He said top universities in the world generated a larger proportion from research.
In his remarks, the UIRESDEV Fair Committee, Prof. Andrew Fadoju, said the university hoped that the lofty objective of strengthening the gown-and-town collaboration would be realised soon.
