UNILAG DVC blames poor funding, limited expertise for research setbacks

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics and Research of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has recommended adequate funding and provision of standard tools for research growth in Nigeria.

According to him, unavailabilty of adequate equipment and poor funding remained major setbacks for researchers in Nigeria.

He spoke at the Nigeria Academy of Science’s public lecture and induction of fellows.

Ogundipe, who was also inducted as a fellow of the academy, suggested that increased sensitisation efforts were needed on the importance of research.

He said, “This award has a huge responsibility and I hope to use this fellowship to ensure that science and technology is better communicated to the society beginning with secondary schools through various sensitization programs.

“Also, at the tertiary level, I will work at searching for and disseminating information to the scientific community about various sources of funding for scientific research and infrastructural developments beginning from my local community which is the University of Lagos and extending this further to other universities with time.

“A major draw back to research include inadequacy or lack (in some cases) of equipment needed to execute such research, limited expertise in the subject area and inadequate funding. All these limit the efficiency of researchers as well as the quality of output produced at the end of the research work.”

To improve on the level of education, he advised that private organisations should coaborate with government.

The university administrator added, “The state of education in Nigeria at present when compared to the developed world is not up to international standards but this can be improved upon by both by the government and the private sectors investing more in and collaborating with the education sector.

“This will improve both the curriculum, human resources as well as infrastructure in our institutions, thereby providing the enabling environment and standard required for us to compete effectively with the developed world.”

Also inducted as fellows of the academy were Professors Effiom Anita, Joseph Balogun, Charles Esimone, Kamiyus Gamaniel, Folasade Ogunsola, Emiola Olapade-Olaopa, Martins Olorunfemi, and Mufutau Oyeneyin.