Grants
By Funmilayo Adeyemi
Nigerian universities have been urged to strengthen their capacity for international grants acquisition and strategic resource mobilisation to remain globally competitive, relevant and financially sustainable.
The call was made by the Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Prof. Andrew Haruna, and the Managing Director of Optimal Delivery Solutions Projects and Corporate Services Limited, Mr Ken Oguzie.
They spoke at a collaborative research workshop held at the CVCNU Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
The workshop, themed “Unlocking Global Funding: Resource Mobilisation and International Grantsmanship for Nigerian Universities,” focused on equipping institutions with skills to access and manage international research funding.
Speaking on institutional readiness, Haruna said the global academic landscape had shifted greatly, with leading universities increasingly relying on competitive grants to drive innovation, research output and growth.
He noted that although Nigerian universities were eligible for numerous international funding opportunities, many institutions faced challenges including weak proposal development capacity, poor alignment with donor priorities and inadequate institutional frameworks for grants acquisition.
According to him, excessive reliance on government subventions had limited universities’ ability to diversify funding sources through international grants, industry partnerships and collaborative research networks.
“For many universities, reliance on government subventions remains dominant, while alternative funding opportunities through international grants, industry partnerships, and collaborative research networks are not fully explored or strategically pursued,” he said.
Haruna described the workshop as timely, noting that it would expose participants to practical approaches for strengthening institutional capacity, building partnerships and improving grantsmanship practices.
He urged universities to align their research priorities with global development needs while projecting strong Nigerian and African perspectives in research outputs.
Also speaking, Oguzie identified three strategic shifts required for Nigerian universities to attract global funding.
He said institutions must move from individual-driven efforts to institutional strategies, from local orientation to global relevance, and from competition to collaboration.
Oguzie explained that international funders now prioritise research addressing global challenges such as climate change, food security, artificial intelligence, public health and inclusive development.
“Grant writing is not merely a technical skill; it is a strategic capability. When leadership prioritises grants, the institution follows,” he said.
He stressed that collaborative research across universities, countries and disciplines significantly improves funding success rates and enhances institutional credibility.
Oguzie added that participants were exposed to emerging global funding trends, compliance standards required by major donors and digital tools for improving research visibility and collaboration.
In his presentation, Lead Consultant, Dr Akanimo Odon, highlighted the importance of international partnerships and intra-university collaboration as critical drivers of successful grant applications.
Similarly, CVCNU Research Officer and facilitator, Mrs Joy Ezirim, emphasised the need for Nigerian universities to strengthen institutional branding and global online presence to improve visibility within the international academic ecosystem.
Ezirim said participants were equipped with practical tools and strategic insights to navigate global funding systems, strengthen internal grantsmanship structures and build sustainable partnerships with international funding organisations.
She added that the workshop also provided opportunities for networking, peer learning and inter-university collaboration aimed at expanding Nigerian universities’ participation in international research funding. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Tosin Kolade
