UI DVC Urges Researchers to Prioritise Innovation, Societal Impact Over Academic Prestige
Oru Leonard
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter O. Olapegba, has stressed that modern universities are increasingly evaluated by the relevance and societal impact of their research rather than by infrastructure or student population alone.
Professor Olapegba made the remark while representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, at the opening ceremony of a three-day TETFund Capacity Building Training Workshop organised by the University of Ibadan Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for early career researchers.
Speaking on the theme, “Promoting Entrepreneurial Mindset for Research, Productivity and Growth in the University Setting,” the DVC described entrepreneurial thinking as a critical survival strategy for researchers in today’s academic environment.
He criticised the traditional academic model that places excessive emphasis on teaching, research and publication output, noting that scholarly publications should no longer be viewed as the final destination of research efforts.
According to him, research outcomes must address real societal challenges, while innovations developed within universities should move beyond laboratories into commercial and community use.
Professor Olapegba encouraged researchers to focus on projects that respond to societal and industrial needs, embrace intellectual property knowledge, and integrate entrepreneurship into teaching and learning processes.
He clarified that entrepreneurship in academia does not imply that lecturers should abandon scholarship for trading activities, but rather that academics should become solution-driven innovators capable of identifying opportunities in challenging situations.
The DVC further stated that researchers should begin to see laboratories as prototype factories, departments as innovation hubs, and students as future employers of labour instead of job seekers.
He added that academic productivity in the 21st century should be measured not only by journal publications, but also by the number of lives impacted, startups established, and industries transformed through university-driven innovation.
Professor Olapegba acknowledged persistent challenges confronting Nigerian universities, including inadequate funding, deteriorating infrastructure and heavy teaching responsibilities, but noted that interventions by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), such as the National Research Fund and Institutional-Based Research grants, have continued to support research growth and innovation.
He disclosed that the university administration is developing promotion criteria that will recognise patents, industry-sponsored projects and research spin-offs alongside conventional academic publications.
Also speaking, the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Professor Sherifat A. Aboaba, described the workshop as a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening entrepreneurial thinking among academic staff.
She said universities must evolve from centres of theoretical learning into institutions that drive innovation, commercialisation, enterprise development and sustainable economic growth.
Professor Aboaba noted that entrepreneurship has become central to institutional relevance and competitiveness, adding that the ability to convert knowledge into practical solutions and viable enterprises now defines academic excellence globally.
She revealed that the University of Ibadan is among the 14 pilot institutions selected for the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification programme introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education to equip students with entrepreneurial competencies alongside academic qualifications.
According to her, the workshop is designed to expose participants to innovation-led research, startup incubation, grant competitiveness, interdisciplinary collaboration, commercialisation opportunities and industry engagement, with the aim of strengthening research productivity and institutional growth.
