CENRAD Holds Five-Day Grant Writing Training for MAU Staff, Postgraduate Students

The Centre for Research and Development (CENRAD), Modibbo Adama University, Yola, has organised a five-day Grant Writing Training to strengthen the capacity of academic staff and postgraduate students to secure competitive research funding.

The training, held from September 28 to October 2, 2026, was sponsored by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Umar, and attracted 65 nominated participants comprising academic staff and postgraduate students.

More than 45 additional participants also joined voluntarily, both physically and online, reflecting growing interest in grant writing and research funding within the University community.

The programme was facilitated by Prof. Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi of the University of Port Harcourt.

It covered key areas of grant development, including identifying funding opportunities, aligning research ideas with funding priorities, proposal structuring, methodology, budgeting, ethics and compliance, impact pathways, peer review and proposal defence.

Participants engaged in practical exercises, group discussions, proposal critiques, mock defence sessions and peer-learning activities designed to equip them with practical skills for developing competitive and fundable research proposals.

The training also provided an avenue to explore interdisciplinary collaboration, exchange research ideas, build professional networks and lay a foundation for a stronger grant-seeking culture in the University.

CENRAD expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for his support and commitment to staff development, research advancement and institutional growth.

Appreciation was also extended to the Director of CENRAD, Prof. Yakubu H. Aliyara, the contact person for the training, Ms. Rahila Joshua, the CENRAD team and the facilitators for their contributions to the success of the programme.

Participants called for sustenance of the training, with CENRAD recommending its adoption as an annual flagship capacity-building programme to prepare staff and postgraduate students to compete for national and international research grants.