Recently Lagos State University (LASU) has been in the best of news, winning three different international research grants in less than two months. CYRIACUS NNAJI writes.
Lagos State University (LASU) was selected by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) as its national partner institute (NPI) in implementing the fish4acp project (support for the development of farmed catfish value chain in Nigeria), winning a partial grant of up to $95,000 in the process.
According to report Lasu was selected after the FAO adjudged its bid as the best among those submitted by institutions in the country.
The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is the fish4acp project management unit for the European Union and Agrinatura fish4acp project (2020-2024) involving 10 Africa-Carribean-Pacific (ACP) countries.
The report stated that the partnership is part of efforts to develop food value chains that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable across the countries.
In conveying the news of Lasu’s emergence, the FAO noted that “with reference to the call for expression of interest launched by the fish4acp project on 15th April, 2020, we would like to inform you that the project management unit and the external panel have finalized the evaluation of the offers received. We are glad to inform you that the Lagos State University was selected as offering the best value for money for the solicited services, and as per FAO rules and procedures on the procurement of services.
“Please note that due to the current Covid-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions, the fish4acp project has decided to adopt a phased approach in implementing the activities that were originally envisaged in the call. As a result, we would like to award a partial grant (up to an overall amount of USD95,000) as provided for in section 3 of the call for expression of interest.”
The Lasu winning proposal was led by Professor of Fisheries, Prof. Akintola, S.L. who also doubles as the National Project Officer. Other members of the team are Dr. Fakoya, K.A, Dr. Sherifat Yusuff, Dr. Zakariya Amoo, Mr Olusola Olabanjo and Yusuf Olabisi.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, NPOM, has also congratulated the team for the feat while urging them to work hard to see through the successful implementation of the project. He also pledged the support of the university to the team in their efforts on the project.
While that was going on, Lagos State University (LASU) partnered by some universities and collaborating institutions also won $2,496,128.00 partnership grant in the October 2019 Competition of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada.
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is the federal research funding agency of the Canadian Federal Government that promotes and supports postsecondary-based research and research training in the humanities and social sciences.
The winning proposal titled “Vulnerability to Viability (V2V): Global Partnership for Building Strong Small-Scale Fisheries Communities”, had as lead applicant Dr. Prateep Nayak of the University of Waterloo and Prof. Akintola, S.L and Dr. Fakoya, K.A of the Department of Fisheries, of Lagos State University as co-applicants.
According to the team, “the goal of the partnership is to critically examine factors and conditions contributing to the vulnerability of the small-scale fisheries (SSF), and to work with SSF communities and other key actors to enhance their viability.
“We use the term viability not just in an economic sense but also to include social, political, and ecological aspects of SSF. Transitioning from vulnerability to viability (V2V) is an area of study that has not been adequately explored
“To do so, our partnership brings together a diverse team of experts (scientists, practitioners, policy and community actors) from 30 Universities, 7 government and research institutions, and 14 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to form a “V2V Global Partnership.”
The LASU team also expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju, A. Fagbohun, SAN, NPOM for the support it received during the proposal stage and for providing the conducive environment that makes LASU participation compelling.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fagnohun, on his part, congratulated members of the team, on their success and urged them to optimally utilise the grant to solve identified problems.
In another development, a LASU- Led Research Proposal has equally been accepted under the Gendered Design in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) in the July 2019 call for expressions of interest launched by Carleton University in Canada. The call was part of an explorative research program and is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC, Canada).
The project is currently accepted under Stream One: “Case Studies” ($15,000 CAD) with potential for further funding to upscale towards achieving a Stream Two: “Case Study + Prototype” (max. of $35,000 CAD). The proposal was selected after rigorous assessments by hosts of diverse experts supporting the programme to ensure suitable alignment with the Stream of the programme program and that the project fully considers a gender perspective and will contribute to gendered design thinking
The winning proposal was led by Dr. Fakoya, K.A. (Department of Fisheries) with Mrs. Solanke –Abiodun, A. ( Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos); Prof. Boyo, A.O. (Department of Physics and Dean, Faculty of Science), Prof. Akintola, S.L. (Head, Department of Fisheries) and Dr. Ajelara, K.O. (Department of Zoology) as members.
The objective of the award is to support and promote a community of experts in LMICs engaged, or interested in engaging with Gendered Design as a potential field of practice and research. It seeks to foster and disseminate knowledge on how and by whom Gendered Design is practiced and could be practiced in LMICs, and by further support capacity building in Gendered Design.
The team, in its submission, appreciates the support of the University management under the able leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju A. Fagbohun, SAN NPOM and seeks his further support for the successful implementation of the project.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, SAN, NPOM, has congratulated the team and reiterated the fact that the University administration under his watch will always support endeavors that add value to the Lagos State University and humanity as a whole. He urged the team to ensure that the project is successfully implemented in line with the directives of the funding University.
Riding on the wave of the recent successes recorded by the University’s Academics in their quest for local and international research grants, the Lagos State University Senate at its sitting on 25th June, 2020 held a virtual training for members on writing grant winning research proposals in order to benefit from the freshly approved N7.5b TETFund NRF 2020 Research grant.
At the sitting, the 120 plus members in attendance were trained by Director, Directorate of Research Management and Innovation, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Acting Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Abiodun Adewuya; Former Dean, Faculty of Management Science, Prof Banji Fajonyomi; Head, Department of Fisheries, Prof. Shehu Akintola, and Head, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Dr. Teslim Ojuromi, all of whom are grant winners, on the guidelines to writing effective grant winning research proposals.
The Virtual Senate Sitting, the 4th of its kind, also provided an opportunity for the Senate Members to preview the new University Website set to be unveiled soon.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, NPOM, chaired and moderated the Meeting from the University Senate Chamber where he was joined by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Oyedamola Oke and the Registrar, Mr Olayinka Amuni.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Olumuyiwa Noah and Librarian, Dr. Emmanuel Lai Adebayo joined virtually.
Members of the Secretariat, led by the Deputy Registrar, Mr Emmanuel Fanu; Director, University Multimedia Centre, Dr. Bosede Amoo, Head, Computer Science Department, Dr. Toyin Enikuomehin, and Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ademola Adekoya and his team, were also present at the Senate Chamber.
