The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration of the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter O. Olapegba, has charged academics to become problem-solvers who can identify opportunities where others see obstacles, emphasising that research findings should solve problems in host communities, and patented innovations from the universities should move from the laboratory to the local market.
The DVC said that universities are no longer judged solely by enrolment figures or the beauty of their permanent sites, but by the relevance of their researches.
He stated this on behalf of 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 in the university.
Professor Olapegba said that the theme of the training programme: “Promoting Entrepreneurial Mindset for Research, Productivity and Growth in the University Setting,” is not a mere slogan, but a survival strategy for researchers.
He lamented the linear traditional academic mindset which focuses on teaching, research and publications, stressing that publications, often referred to as the currency of scholarship should no longer be considered as the only destination of research.
He encouraged participants to design research projects that address societal and industrial needs, embrace intellectual property literacy, and integrate entrepreneurship into teaching and learning.
He, however, clarified that adopting an entrepreneurial mindset does not mean every professor must become a trader.
The DVC explained that researchers must see the laboratory as a prototype factory, the department as an innovation hub and the students as potential employers of labour and not just job seekers.
He restated that productivity in the 21st century should not only be measured by the number of publications in academic journals, but also by the number of lives impacted, startups created, and industries transformed through university research.
Professor Olapegba, therefore, advised academics to adopt entrepreneurial practices that will transform research into innovation, enterprise development, and sustainable solutions for national development.
He acknowledged that universities are faced with challenges of poor funding, decaying infrastructure, and heavy teaching workloads, but highlighted that TETFund has given tools through its interventions such as the National Research Fund (NRF) and Institutional-Based Research (IBR) fund which provides opportunities and support for research development in the university system.
The DVC disclosed that the university administration will reward academics who translate their research into tangible impact and stated that the administration was also working on criteria that will recognise patents, spin-offs and industry-sponsored projects alongside traditional publications during promotion exercises.
He urged participants to actively engage in the workshop sessions, collaborate across disciplines, and position the university as a key driver of Nigeria’s economic and technological transformation.
The Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Professor Sherifat A. Aboaba, described the programme as a landmark initiative designed to strengthen entrepreneurial thinking among academic staff.
She stated that the training programme represents a strategic institutional response to the evolving realities of higher education, national development, and global competitiveness.
Professor Aboaba noted that universities can no longer function solely as centres for teaching and theoretical knowledge dissemination, stressing that modern universities must evolve into hubs of innovation, commercialisation, enterprise development, and sustainable economic growth.
She emphasised that entrepreneurship has become central to institutional excellence, adding that the ability to transform knowledge into practical solutions and viable enterprises is now the true benchmark of academic relevance.
The Director highlighted recent efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen entrepreneurship education in tertiary institutions, particularly the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) Programme introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education.
She disclosed that the University of Ibadan is among the 14 pilot universities selected for the programme, which is aimed at ensuring that students graduate with both academic qualifications and entrepreneurial competencies.
Professor Aboaba also referenced initiatives such as the TETFund research commercialisation frameworks, the Research and Innovation Commercialisation Committee (RICC), the Student Venture Capital Grant Scheme, and innovation incubation support as part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigerian universities as drivers of enterprise and socio-economic transformation.
According to her, the training programme was carefully designed to expose participants to entrepreneurial pedagogy, innovation-led research, commercialisation opportunities, interdisciplinary collaboration, startup incubation, grant competitiveness, and industry engagement.
She disclosed that it is expected to provide participants with practical insights and strategic frameworks that will strengthen research productivity, foster innovation, deepen industry collaboration, and promote sustainable institutional growth.
