By Edward Oseghe
A globally ranked scientist, Prof. Charles Adetunji, has called for a strategic shift in Nigeria’s academic culture, urging scholars to move beyond routine publication toward research that delivers measurable impact, attracts global funding and addresses pressing societal challenges in pursuit of sustainable development.
Adetunji, made the call during a one-day research lecture/workshop organised by the Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS), Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO), on Friday at the University Library Conference Hall, Okada, Edo State.
The workshop, themed “Crafting the Grant-Winning Proposal: Research, Innovation and Grant Hunting,” addressed the urgent need to strengthen research capacity and equip scholars with practical grant-writing skills.
Speaking at the event, Adetunji
of the Department of Microbiology, Edo State University, Iyahmoh, and ranked among the world’s top two percent scientists, noted that many researchers fall short not due to lack of expertise, but because of systemic challenges that hinder productivity.
“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 cycles and weak approval systems as key obstacles, stressing that meaningful progress requires structural reforms rather than increased pressure on researchers.
According to the guest lecturer, research productivity should be assessed beyond publication counts, focusing instead on efficiency, output 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.
Adetunji urged emerging scholars to build strong academic profiles through specialised expertise, consistent publication in reputable journals, increased citations and international collaboration.
“Research begins with curiosity, not credentials,” he said, encouraging scholars to ask bold questions, seek mentorship and pursue problem-driven inquiries.
He further called on universities to ensure that research outcomes extend beyond academic journals into policy formulation, innovation and community development.
“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 tackling poverty, improving education, advancing clean energy and addressing climate and health challenges, while noting the growing influence of digital tools.
“The laboratory is now virtual, global and interconnected,” he said.
In his remarks, IUO Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said the university was deliberately repositioning to compete globally through enhanced research output and grant success.
“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.
He described research as central to national development, adding that grant writing is now 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.
Ezemonye also announced Adetunji’s appointment as a visiting professor in the College, noting that his expertise would strengthen the institution’s research ecosystem.
Earlier, the Acting Dean of CNAS, Prof. Maureen Okwu, said the workshop was timely, stressing that securing competitive 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 observed that many promising ideas fail due to poorly structured proposals rather than weak concepts.
“What makes the difference is the ability to present those ideas clearly, persuasively and in alignment with funding priorities,” she said, adding that grant hunting also fosters collaboration and practical solutions.
The workshop underscored a growing consensus within Nigeria’s academic community that the future of research lies not merely in publication, but in impact, innovation and global relevance. Participants were encouraged to embrace strategic thinking, strengthen collaborations and position their work as a catalyst for national development and sustainable transformation.
