Elizade University Hosts Research Clinic to Boost Innovation, Collaboration and Global Research Impact

Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, has intensified efforts to strengthen its research culture and global academic competitiveness by hosting a one-day research clinic designed to equip scholars with the skills needed to produce high-quality publications, attract research funding and develop practical solutions to societal challenges.

Organised by the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, the programme brought together lecturers, researchers and postgraduate students under the theme, "From Data to Paper," with emphasis on collaboration, innovation, research funding and scholarly productivity.

Held under the banner "Work Together, Build Together," the clinic featured collaboration matchmaking sessions, figure and methods clinics, innovation and start-up pitch presentations, funding and laboratory skills workshops, as well as structured networking sessions aimed at fostering long-term research partnerships.

Declaring the programme open, Vice-Chancellor Professor Philip Oguntunde urged researchers to embrace collaboration as a key driver of academic excellence, innovation and institutional development.

He said meaningful research breakthroughs are more likely to emerge when scholars combine their expertise and resources rather than work independently.

Professor Oguntunde encouraged academics to build strong internal collaborations before pursuing international partnerships, stressing that teamwork enhances research quality, improves efficiency and accelerates the achievement of meaningful results.

According to him, interdisciplinary collaboration creates opportunities for impactful discoveries by bringing together diverse areas of expertise to address complex scientific and societal challenges.

The Vice-Chancellor also advised researchers to explore strategic approaches to publishing in reputable international journals while avoiding excessive publication costs, noting that mentorship, collaboration and knowledge sharing can significantly improve the quality and visibility of research outputs.

He further challenged academics to increase their research productivity through smarter and more strategic approaches that will strengthen their professional profiles, enhance the university's reputation and contribute to national development.

Dean of the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Professor Omotola Dada, described the research clinic as a deliberate capacity-building initiative designed to prepare scholars for success in an increasingly competitive global research environment.

She said multidisciplinary collaboration remains one of the most effective ways of developing integrated solutions to today's scientific and societal challenges, adding that the programme was also intended to promote teamwork, innovation and academic excellence across the university community.

Head of the Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. Taiwo Crossby Omotoriogun, highlighted the value of collaborative research, noting that shared expertise consistently produces stronger outcomes than isolated efforts.

Programme coordinator, Dr. Olayinka Osuolale, said research matchmaking and strategic collaborations provide opportunities for scholars to broaden the scope of their work, generate stronger ideas, attract competitive funding and produce research with greater societal impact.

The event concluded with networking sessions and practical engagements that enabled participants to identify potential research collaborators, refine project ideas and explore opportunities for securing competitive grants and publishing in high-impact academic journals.

Participants, including Dr. Olugbenga Onile and Williams Olufunmi, described the clinic as a valuable platform for building partnerships, expanding research capacity and laying the foundation for future scientific discoveries.

The initiative further reinforces Elizade University's commitment to advancing research, innovation and academic excellence while strengthening its position as an emerging centre for cutting-edge scholarship and solution-driven research in Nigeria.