FUHSO Trains Academic Staff on Grant Proposal Writing, Budgeting

The Directorate of Research and Innovation, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, on Monday organized a one-day training on Research Proposal, Budgeting, Costing, and Justification for Grants for academic staff and researchers.

Held at Lecture Hall B, Otada Campus, the training aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to develop competitive proposals and attract funding from donor agencies.

Declaring the programme open on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Francis Aba Uba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Friday Godwin Okibe commended the Director of Research and Innovation, Prof. Joseph A. Okopi, for initiating the training. 

Prof. Okibe described proposal writing as a prerequisite for securing grants, noting that collaboration and practical skills are key to developing fundable research. 

Lead facilitator Mrs. Esther Gofwan of Jos University Teaching Hospital emphasized that adequate funding is indispensable for research execution. She explained that costs must be properly categorized into direct and indirect components and clearly justified in applications.

Prof. Okopi, a renowned virologist, delivered a lecture titled “The Anatomy of a Typical Research Proposal.” He outlined essential components of globally competitive proposals and stressed that excellence in grant writing comes from deliberate practice and attention to detail.

The session featured interactive discussions as facilitators addressed common proposal-writing challenges.

Also in attendance were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Mrs. Cecilia Ojabo and teaching and non-teaching staff. Dr. Susan Unobe delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating management, facilitators, and participants for the programme’s success.