KWASU wins $43,913 UNESCO research grant, N83m NRF funding

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

Kwara State University (KWASU) has recorded another milestone in research and innovation as four of its research teams secured competitive grants from the TWAS-UNESCO and the National Research Fund (NRF), reinforcing the institution’s growing reputation for academic excellence and impactful research.

At the international level, a research team led by Dr. Bolatito Eunice Olanipekun, the principal investigator, received a research grant of $43,913 from TWAS-UNESCO. The award is expected to support the team’s research activities and further strengthen the university’s global research profile.

Similarly, three KWASU research teams emerged successful under the 2025 National Research Fund grant scheme. The grants were awarded following a competitive selection process designed to promote innovative research capable of addressing national development challenges.

Under the scheme, the team led by Dr. Abdulwaheed Musa received ₦37,590,000, while Dr. Kehinde Peter Alabi’s team secured ₦25,000,000. Another team headed by Dr. Khafayat Yetunde Olatinwo was awarded ₦20,435,900, bringing the total NRF funding secured by the university to more than ₦83 million.

Presenting the award letters to the successful researchers, the Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, congratulated the recipients on their achievements, describing the grants as evidence of the university’s commitment to promoting high-quality research and innovation.

He noted that the success of the researchers reflected the institution’s deliberate investment in creating an enabling environment for scholarship and research capable of attracting both national and international funding opportunities.

Furthermore, Professor Jimoh urged the awardees to mentor early-career researchers and share their experiences with colleagues. He stressed that building a strong research culture would encourage more academics to compete successfully for prestigious grants and contribute to the university’s academic growth.

The vice-chancellor expressed optimism that the latest achievements would further enhance KWASU’s visibility in the global academic community while strengthening its contributions to knowledge creation, innovation and national development.