By Blessing Okareh
The University of Ibadan, UI, is set to commercialise its innovation, research outcomes and knowledge for national development.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration at the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter Olapegba, stated this while receiving a team from the United Kingdom on a courtesy visit to the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, Professor Olapegba appreciated the visiting team for coming, noting that given its antecedents, the University of Ibadan was the right choice for collaboration in academic research and innovation in Nigeria.
Professor Olapegba said the institution had set up a committee to commercialise the many patents and intellectual properties of experts and researchers from its different departments and faculties.
He further disclosed that the University of Ibadan, in the past 76 years, had established the nexus to use the generated knowledge for the benefit of communities in Nigeria and globally.
Professor Olapegba reiterated that UI was willing to partner public and private organisations to commercialise its research products to promote more strategic qualitative research.
Leader of the visiting team, Dr Joanna Scales, said their organisation, Innovate UK, is funded by the UK government to support research and innovation in the United Kingdom and internationally.
According to Dr Scales, Innovate UK is in the process of developing a programme; “The Climate-Smart Agricultural Partnership” which would involve collaboration between the UK, Brazil, Ghana and Nigeria with the aim of promoting smart agricultural practices in Africa to improve food production in the two partner African countries.
She added that Innovate UK seeks to build networks, and promote opportunities in the cocoa, oil palm, cassava value chains, pests and disease management, agroforestry, and to also identify challenges and encourage knowledge sharing between the four countries.
Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group.
