Grants attraction a thing of joy in academia, says ABU Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Kabiru Bala, says grants attraction for research and other academic activities remains a thing of joy in the academia.

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Declaring open a one-day training workshop for women graduates in construction industry jointly organised by Ahmadu Bello University and Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom, the Vice-Chancellor stressed that grants seeking to enhance teaching and research became necessary in view of the financial difficulty facing public universities.

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The workshop, “Gender Diversification of Construction Industry Workforce: Attracting, Recruiting, Supporting, and Retaining Women Graduates”, was funded by the British Council.

The event, which took place yesterday (Tuesday, 14th May, 2024), held at the CBN Centre for Economics and Finance, Ahmadu Bello University, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria.

Prof. Bala, who congratulated the researchers that won grants from the British Council to conduct the training workshop, explained that Ahmadu Bello University recently upgraded its research and innovation unit to a directorate to enhance research activities in the University.

He said that the directorate has been organising a series of training workshop for academic staff of the University on grant writing proposals in order to win research grants from local and international organisations.

In her keynote address at the occasion, the Director, Physical Planning Development, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Qs (Mrs) Aishatu Mohammed, said that in today’s dynamic world the role of women in the workforce was paramount.

Mrs. Aishatu listed some of the challenges faced by women graduates that include gender bias, lack of mentorship and networking opportunities, work life balance and stereotypes and societal expectations.

She also said that the strategies for strengthening pathways into employment was by promoting gender diversity establishing mentorship programmes as well as empowerment through education and advocating for policy changes.

According to her, strengthening pathways into employment for women graduates was not a matter of social justice but essential for economic prosperity and sustainable development.

“It is imperative that stakeholders across academia, industry, and government collaborate to dismantle barriers and create a future where every woman – graduate can fulfil their potential and aspirations in the workforce” said Aishatu.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Design, Prof. Abdullahi Abubakar, expressed confidence that the outcome of the workshop would be memorable and would improve quality of women in construction industry.

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Lead Researcher, Nigeria, Prof. Kulomri J. Adogbo made presentation on the British Council while Dr. Ernest E. Ameyaw, Lead Researcher, United Kingdom, spoke virtually on the ARe-SuRe Research Project.

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Public Affairs Directorate,

Office of the Vice-Chancellor,

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Wednesday, 15th May, 2024