Bayelsa Medical University Holds Three-Day Grantsmanship, Mentorship Workshop to Boost Research Capacity

Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa, has concluded a three-day Capacity-Building Workshop on Grantsmanship and Mentorship aimed at strengthening the university's research culture and improving its ability to attract competitive research funding.

The workshop, organised by the University's Institute of Research and Development, was held from July 1 to July 3, 2026, under the theme "From Concept to Impact: Mastering Grantsmanship and Mentorship for Sustainable Innovation."

The programme brought together academic staff, researchers and experts from Nigeria and other countries to promote research excellence, innovation and sustainable development.

Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed that research remains a key pillar of the university's vision. He emphasised the importance of mentorship in developing the next generation of researchers and noted that fostering collaboration, innovation and grantsmanship would enhance the university's research visibility and global impact.

Day One

The opening day featured presentations by leading scholars and research experts, including:

• Oladapo Walker – Delivered the keynote address on positioning Nigerian universities for research leadership, innovation and global visibility in the 21st century.
• Olusola – Introduced participants to research tools and opportunities available through QIAGEN's scientific portfolio.
• Silvia Portugal – Delivered a virtual presentation on strengthening African research through strategic North-South collaborations.
• Christopher Agulanna – Spoke on the importance of research ethics.
• Catherine Falade – Presented a lecture on clinical trials and resource mobilisation.
• Mohammed Aliyu Paiko – Delivered closing remarks for the day's session.

Day Two

The second day focused on collaborative grantsmanship and research proposal writing.

Professor Mohammed Aliyu Paiko trained participants on developing competitive research proposals capable of attracting local and international funding.

He explained that successful grant proposals should clearly demonstrate the significance, relevance and feasibility of research projects while addressing societal challenges and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He also encouraged researchers to embrace multidisciplinary collaboration, noting that successful grant applications are often built on strong partnerships and complementary expertise.

The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session on proposal development, grant acquisition and improving funding success.

In recognition of his contributions to research development and mentorship, Professor Paiko received an Award of Excellence, presented on behalf of the university management by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Aloysius Ebi Ligha.

Day Three

The final day centred on practical strategies for securing research funding through mentorship, networking, strategic partnerships and collaboration.

Presentations included:

• Olushola – Spoke on mentorship as a structured process of transferring knowledge, skills, values and professional identity to emerging researchers. He advocated the establishment of mentorship clusters, functional research laboratories and structured mentoring systems.
• Olabisi Ojo – Discussed global funding opportunities and strategic collaboration, advising researchers to align their work with fundable priorities, build credible research networks and focus on their areas of expertise.
• Oladapo Walker – Delivered the final presentation on strengthening partnerships among universities, government and industry to promote research commercialisation, innovation and sustainable development. He also encouraged researchers to undertake data-driven, solution-oriented research while embracing entrepreneurship as a driver of national development.

Closing the workshop, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the resource persons for their contributions and commended participants for their active engagement throughout the programme.

He urged researchers to apply the knowledge gained by producing high-quality research, building meaningful collaborations, securing competitive grants and contributing to solutions for healthcare and other societal challenges.

The university said the workshop represents another milestone in its efforts to strengthen research excellence, foster innovation, expand international collaborations and position Bayelsa Medical University as a leading centre for impactful medical education and research in Nigeria and beyond.