By Ayodele Oni
The Akwa Ibom State University has been gifted with the sum of N100 million by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Prof Nentawe Yilwatda.
The money is specifically to support cutting-edge research with direct societal and economic impact.
In addition to the financial donation, Prof Yilwatda proposed to increase the research grant if the initial ₦100 million is transparently and effectively utilised, while pledging to personally supervise and monitor the implementation of the research projects, ensuring accountability, excellence, and measurable outcomes.
The Special Adviser to the National Chairman, (Media and Communications Strategy), Abimbola Tooki, stated that Yilwatda made the donation in line with his strong advocacy for repositioning Nigerian universities as engines of innovation, national development, and global competitiveness.
He revealed that the grant is dedicated to strengthening research output that addresses pressing national challenges and translates knowledge into practical solutions.
According to him, research is the soul of a world-class university, but research without impact remains ineffective unless it illuminates society, informs policy, and fuels innovation.
He noted that Nigeria’s investment in research remains below 0.5 per cent of GDP far beneath the OECD benchmark of 2 per cent describing this gap not as a limitation, but as a clear opportunity for visionary intervention.
Yilwatda explained that the research fund is expected to prioritise high-impact areas critical to Nigeria’s present and future, including flood modelling in coastal regions, climate adaptation strategies in the Niger Delta, optimisation of offshore oil production, sustainable fisheries management, and renewable energy integration.
He emphasised that emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence-driven modelling, big data analytics, and global digital research platforms, must be deployed to move research from abstract theory to tangible societal impact, particularly in resource-rich and environmentally sensitive regions like Akwa Ibom State.
Drawing lessons from global best practices, the APC Chairman referenced leading institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University, where interdisciplinary research and strong industry linkages have driven regional development and global innovation ecosystems.
He stressed that Akwa Ibom State University has the potential to replicate such success by aligning research with local strengths while maintaining a global outlook.
He also highlighted the importance of international collaboration and digital connectivity, noting that modern universities must operate locally while competing globally.
Through virtual research clusters, co-supervised doctoral programmes, and online visiting scholars, Akwa Ibom State University, he said, can position Uyo as a visible node in the global knowledge network.
Yilwatda reaffirmed that strengthening research must go hand in hand with improving the quality of teaching and learning.
He advocated the adoption of blended learning models, AI-driven adaptive systems, virtual laboratories, and immersive simulations, particularly in marine biology, offshore engineering, and energy analytics, to prepare students for a technology-driven global economy.
Describing the donation as both a commitment and a challenge, he urged the university community to see research funding not as an entitlement, but as a responsibility to deliver solutions that uplift society, strengthen industry, and advance national development.
“This intervention is about building capacity, credibility, and confidence in Nigerian research. When research is impactful, universities become catalysts of development, and nations become globally competitive,” he said.
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