The 12th and immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Abel I. Olayinka, FAS, has disclosed that the creation of the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships (RISP) was a response to the need for the commercialization of research outputs and innovation that emanate from the university.
He made this disclosure at a Town-Gown discourse held at the university’s Research Development Fair tagged: “UI-Town Connect 2025” where he was the lead discussant.
Professor Olayinka said the University of Ibadan is at the forefront of connecting the gown to town through the office of the DVC RISP and that the annual fair was organized to achieve this mandate.
He stated that research findings should not be left to gather dust on shelves and emphasized the need to connect research outputs to industry players who could leverage them for impact on the society.
He also disclosed that the Postgraduate College of the university has set up a committee to examine doctoral theses at the college and explore commercialization possibilities, reiterating that a university is as relevant as the number of its researches that translate to solutions to societal problems.
The former VC, however, called for government intervention through the provision of incentives, funding opportunities and scholarship schemes for doctoral students so that they can be more focused on their research work, rather that combine research activities with full-time pursuit of economic sustenance.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Oluyemisi A. Bamgbose, SAN, who chaired the discourse, stated that the Roundtable Discussion forum was an initiative to provide a platform for practical deliberations among researchers and industry experts.
Apart from the various speeches delivered on the first day of the fair, she emphasized that the continued discussion of the theme of the fair: “Research, Innovation and Development: A Tripod for Meeting Societal Needs” was vital.
She advised early career researchers to understand the tripod and to always carry out quality research that could help them to make decent living from their research activities.
The Director of the UI Centre for Intellectual Property Protection and Commercialization (CIPPaC), Professor T.O. Okareh, as a discussant, acknowledged that the pathway to the protection of intellectual property had been set for the university through the CIPPaC.
He said the centre had been strategically positioned to support researchers to patent their research works and be guided on how to commercialize them.
Professor Okareh, however, submitted that not all research is patented, adding that research works have to fulfil certain yardsticks for commercialization.
The Director of CIPPaC advised researchers not to merely conduct research for the purpose of promotion alone but to have the motive of being problem-solvers, which transcends the next academic promotion.
The Oyo State Coordinator of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mrs. Oluropo Oke, another discussant, explained the laws that guide the protection of intellectual property, saying that the commission performs administrative, enforcement, and enlightenment roles in copyright and intellectual property matters.
She added that the commission was open to collaboration with the university in order to fulfil its mandate of being an agent of change and advancement of society through cutting-edge research.
A robust question and answer session, where researchers and industry experts engaged in the discussion of critical issues that border on policy, synergy, collaboration, intellectual property protection, and research commercialization, followed the panel discussion session.
Industry players who were present at the discourse included experts from Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Westlink Integrated Agriculture Limited, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Manaufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, Oyo/Osun/Ondo/Ekiti/ branch, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, Nigeria Office.
Exhibition by Faculties, Centres, and Institutes within the university and from external organisations scheduled for the two day-fair continued after the round table discussion.
