In its bid to ensure quality service delivery, the management of the University of Ilorin has awarded N49,380,000 to nine of its academic staff to enable them carry out studies on specific areas of interest for the betterment of mankind.

This was disclosed in a memo dated November 3, 2023, and addressed to members of the university community by the institution’s Senate Research Grant Technical Committee, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Ilorin.

According to the memo signed by the Chairman of the Committee, who is also the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University, Professor Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho, only nine out of the 30 research proposals submitted to the Committee were picked after careful consideration of several factors including spread across various Faculties, and based on the conviction that the selected “research endeavours have the capacity to make substantial contributions to the advancement of knowledge and research within the University”.

The areas of interest to be researched on range from the Humanities to Sciences with N8,050,000 awarded to Dr. Segun Isaac Talabi, whose project is titled “Production of smokeless briquettes as an alternative domestic energy source using biomass residues within the University of Ilorin” as the highest amount.

The lowest amount of N2,700,000 was awarded to Dr. Akorede Ganiu Jimoh for a project titled “Effects of Vitamin C on Neuro And Reproductive Toxicity Induced By In Ultero and Lactational Exposure To Carbarmazepine in Wistar Rats”.

Other beneficiaries of the grants are Professor Abdulrasheed A. Adeoye, a former Dean, Faculty of Arts, who got N5,100,000 for his project titled “Collaborative and Sustainable Strategies for the Empowerment of the Marginalised Population in Kwara”; Professor Dominic Leah, a former Director of Sports, University of Ilorin, who received N4,010,000 for her project titled, “Assessment of Hypokinetic Disease Risk Factors and Awareness Creation for Lifestyle Modification in a Nigerian University”, and Professor Gafar Tunde Ijaiya, whose project, titled, “Functional Literacy and Entrepreneurial Competencies As Correlates Of Tertiary Education Graduates’ Wealth-Creating Capability in Kwara State, Nigeria” and who was awarded N3,900,000.

The list of beneficiaries of the UNILORIN Research grant also includes Professor AbdulAzeez Muhammad-Lawal of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, who got N6,700,000 for research he titled, “Food Waste Management Practices among Households in Ilorn Metropolis”; Professor Rasheedat Modupe Mahamood, whose project, titled, “Reducing the Carbon Footprint of UNILORIN Main Auditorium through Renewable Energy Supply”, attracted N5,300,000; and a former Dean, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, Professor Rasheed Gbenga Jimoh, who was awarded N6,520,000 to conduct a study on “Development of Security Intelligence Gathering and Escalation System in Ilorn South Local Government of Kwara State, Nigeria”; as well as Professor Adepoju Feyi Grace, who was granted the sum of N7,100,000 for her research titled “Clinico-Epidemiological Study and the Adoption of Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in the Management of Corneal Ulcers in Nigeria”.