By Adeola Badru

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Administration at the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter Olapegba, has announced the university’s commitment to leveraging the commercialisation of its innovations, research products, and knowledge to drive national development.

Professor Olapegba made the statement yesterday, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, during a courtesy visit from a team representing Innovate UK Business Connect.

Welcoming the visiting team, Professor Olapegba expressed gratitude for their presence at the university, emphasising that the University of Ibadan is an ideal partner for academic research and innovation in Nigeria, given its rich history and achievements.

He revealed that the university has established a dedicated committee aimed at commercialising the numerous patents and intellectual properties developed by its experts and researchers across various departments and faculties.

“This committee will actively seek partnerships with businesses and research funders to facilitate the commercialization of innovative ideas and research outcomes,” he stated.

Highlighting the university’s legacy, Professor Olapegba noted that over its 76-year history, the University of Ibadan has effectively utilised its research capabilities for the benefit of communities both locally and globally.

He acknowledged that, despite facing funding challenges, the university has maintained a culture of excellence in both teaching and research.

The deputy vice-chancellor expressed eagerness for collaboration with Innovate UK Business Connect to enhance the commercialisation of its research products and to engage in strategic, qualitative research initiatives.

In his remark, the leader of the visiting team, Dr. Joanna Scales, accompanied by Dr. Pedro Carvalho, explained that Innovate UK is a government-funded organisation dedicated to supporting research and innovation both in the UK and internationally.

She outlined its key functions, which include providing direct support to universities, developing business ideas, and transforming academic findings into marketable products and services.

Dr. Scales introduced a new initiative, “The Climate-Smart Agricultural Partnership,” which aims to foster collaboration between the UK, Brazil, Ghana, and Nigeria.

The programme, she highlighted, will focuse on promoting climate-smart agricultural practices in Africa, with a projected budget of £40 million aimed at enhancing food production in Ghana and Nigeria.

She elaborated that the initiative will target various aspects of agriculture, including the cocoa value chain, oil palm, cassava, pest and disease management, soil fertility, and agroforestry.

The goal, according to her, is to identify challenges and opportunities while facilitating knowledge sharing among the participating countries.

Dr. Scales, however, announced that the partnership would include two funding competitions for collaborative projects among the four nations, staff exchanges, travel support, and funding aimed at commercialising innovations developed through joint efforts between universities and businesses.

Vanguard News