Adetunji advocates impact-driven research

OKADA, EDO STATE — A globally ranked scientist, Prof. Charles Adetunji, has called for a major shift in Nigeria’s academic culture, urging researchers to move beyond routine publication and focus on impact-driven studies capable of attracting global funding and addressing societal challenges.

Adetunji made the call during a one-day research lecture and workshop organised by the Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS), Igbinedion University, Okada.

The workshop, themed, “Crafting the Grant-Winning Proposal: Research, Innovation and Grant Hunting,” focused on strengthening research capacity and equipping scholars with practical grant-writing skills.

Speaking at the event, Adetunji of the Department of Microbiology, Edo State University, Iyamho said that many researchers are constrained, not by intellectual limitations, but by systemic inefficiencies within institutions.
“Research productivity is often constrained by institutional inefficiencies, rather than intellectual limitations. Most problems are systemic, not individual,” he said.

He identified administrative bottlenecks, fragmented workflows, delayed funding processes and weak approval systems as major challenges affecting research output, adding that reforms are more critical than increased pressure on academics.

Adetunji argued that research productivity should not be measured solely by publication counts, but by efficiency, relevance and real-world impact.

“Productivity is output multiplied by impact and divided by time. Administration can either become a multiplier or a major constraint,” he noted.

He urged early-career researchers to develop strong academic profiles through specialisation, consistent publication in reputable journals, increased citations and international collaborations.

“Research begins with curiosity, not credentials,” he said, encouraging scholars to pursue problem-driven inquiries and seek mentorship.

He also called on universities to ensure that research outcomes translate into policy influence, innovation and community development, rather than remaining within academic journals.

“Imagine a society where research informs policy, innovation drives the economy, universities serve communities, and young minds solve local problems. That is the power of research beyond walls,” he said.

Linking research to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Adetunji highlighted its role in addressing poverty, improving education, advancing clean energy and tackling climate and health challenges, noting that digital tools are reshaping global research.

“The laboratory is now virtual, global and interconnected,” he added.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said that the institution was repositioning itself to compete globally through improved research output and successful grant acquisition.

“This workshop is coming at a time when the university is really focusing on research. The university is thinking research, the university is speaking research, and the university is acting on research,” he said.

Ezemonye described research as central to national development, stressing that grant writing has become essential for institutional sustainability.

“Anybody who ventures into grant writing has something in mind, and that is the winning of the proposal. But there is always a first step. The first step is to craft a proposal,” he said.

He also announced Adetunji’s appointment as a visiting professor in the College, noting that his expertise would strengthen the university’s research ecosystem.

Earlier, the Acting Dean of CNAS, Prof. Maureen Okwu, said the workshop was timely, stressing that access to competitive research funding is now critical to university growth.

“In the present knowledge-driven world, the ability to secure competitive research funding is no longer optional. It is central to the survival and growth of universities,” she said.

She added that many research ideas fail not due to weak concepts, but because of poorly structured proposals.

“What makes the difference is the ability to present those ideas clearly, persuasively and in alignment with funding priorities,” she noted.