FUNAAB COLPHYS Conference Ends with Grant-Writing Workshop to Boost Researchers’ Funding Opportunities

Researchers have been urged to strengthen their grant-seeking, proposal-writing and grant-management skills to improve their chances of securing research funding and increasing the impact of their work.

The call was made during a grant-writing workshop organised as part of the closing activities of the 3rd International Biennial Conference of the College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), on October 15, 2026.

The conference, which commenced on October 13, 2026, was themed “Innovation at the Intersection of Science, Environment, Agriculture, Climate, Health, and Artificial Intelligence.”

Speaking on “Winning, Managing and Leveraging Research and Development Grants,” former FUNAAB Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Kola Adebayo, highlighted the competitive nature of research funding and the need for researchers to establish strong professional visibility, demonstrate the impact of their work and pursue continuous improvement.

His presentation covered competitive bidding, identifying grant opportunities, improving the chances of securing funding, and effectively managing and leveraging research grants. He also stressed the importance of making research achievements more visible to strengthen researchers’ professional profiles and expand the reach of their work.

Earlier, the former Director of the university’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Professor Olufemi Ojo, delivered a presentation titled “Finding Opportunities and Grant Writing: Crafting Compelling Grant Proposals, Budget Planning, and Justification.”

Professor Ojo discussed the skills required to become a competitive researcher and attract research funding. He outlined the major stages of proposal development and the key considerations involved in preparing funding applications.

His presentation also addressed internal reviews before submission, the grant application submission process and research funding agencies.

The Director of the Institute of Human Resources Development (INHURD), FUNAAB, Professor Sheriff Adewuyi, also delivered a presentation titled “Practical Guide to Writing Grant and Research Proposals.”

His session focused on the practical requirements for developing competitive research proposals, including proposal structure and essential writing principles for preparing clear and persuasive funding applications.

In another presentation, “How to Source for Grants/Funds,” Professor Adeniyi Afolabi of the Department of Chemistry, FUNAAB, who also chairs the conference's Local Organising Committee, examined available research funding opportunities.

He explained the concept and types of research grants, approaches to identifying potential funding sources, and the range of grant opportunities and funding agencies available across different parts of the world.

The workshop formed part of the conference's broader focus on research and innovation, providing participants with insights into identifying funding opportunities, developing competitive proposals and managing research grants effectively.