TASFUED VC Revives DiaDeRC Partnership to Boost Research, Mentorship

The Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Prof. Samuel Oladipo, MNPA, CMCPN, MCAN, FIELPN, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening research capacity, mentorship and scholarly development through strategic partnerships with relevant research organisations.

Prof. Oladipo made this known when he received a delegation from DiaDeRC DePECOS-Institutions and Development Research Centre (DiaDeRC), led by Professor Evans Osabuohien, during a meeting focused on reviving and strengthening the existing relationship between the university and the research organisation.

The engagement culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a renewed commitment by both parties to collaborate in research, grant writing, mentorship, training, conferences, academic publishing and other scholarly activities.

Speaking during the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor expressed satisfaction with the revival of the partnership, noting that the relationship had been in the pipeline for some time.

He commended Professor Evans and members of his team for their persistence, doggedness and commitment to sustaining the engagement despite the inability to conclude the process earlier.

Prof. Oladipo emphasised the importance of collaboration in advancing institutional and scholarly development, noting that institutions and academics could achieve more by working together and leveraging their collective expertise and resources.

He expressed optimism that the renewed partnership would produce meaningful and sustainable outcomes for TASFUED, particularly by strengthening the university’s research ecosystem and creating greater opportunities for members of its academic community.

“Academic excellence should not be measured solely by the number of publications produced, but by the quality, relevance and impact of research,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

He also underscored the importance of mentorship in developing the next generation of academics, urging experienced scholars to create platforms and opportunities through which younger researchers could acquire the knowledge, guidance and exposure required to advance their careers.

“Senior academics have a responsibility to provide a strong foundation upon which younger scholars can build, enabling them to achieve significant accomplishments within a shorter period,” he added.

Prof. Oladipo further advocated the promotion of indigenous scholarship, stressing the need to create opportunities for African researchers to contribute meaningfully to global knowledge production rather than remaining mere consumers of knowledge generated elsewhere.

He expressed confidence that the renewed partnership with DiaDeRC would enhance research capacity within TASFUED, strengthen scholarly networks and provide academics with greater access to mentorship, research training and collaborative opportunities.

Earlier, the Director of the Directorate of Research and External Relations, Prof. Olufunke Ekine, recalled that the university’s relationship with DiaDeRC dates back to 2023, with a major research workshop organised at the university in 2024.

She explained that efforts to formalise the relationship through an MoU had been initiated at the time but could not be concluded.

According to her, the renewed engagement was consistent with the Vice-Chancellor’s vision of revisiting and strengthening strategic partnerships capable of advancing research and academic development at the university.

The DiaDeRC DePECOS-Institutions and Development Research Centre delegation outlined the organisation’s commitment to supporting African scholars through training programmes, mentorship, webinars, workshops and conferences designed to enhance research capacity and academic productivity.

Prof. Evans Osabuohien disclosed that DiaDeRC’s mentoring network had grown to about 2,500 scholars from African countries and other parts of the world.

He explained that the network provides opportunities for scholars to develop competencies in grant writing, research proposal development, academic publishing and other areas relevant to career advancement.

He also emphasised the importance of building strong intellectual networks and leveraging available human and institutional resources to promote research and scholarly development.

The delegation highlighted DiaDeRC’s international network of scholars and institutions, noting that the organisation seeks to connect intellectual resources from different parts of the world to support researchers, particularly those in Africa.

The meeting concluded with the signing of the MoU between TASFUED and DiaDeRC, with both parties expressing their commitment to deepening collaboration in research, mentorship, training, conferences and related scholarly activities.

Present at the occasion were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Adekunle Adeogun, FISN; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Rotimi Ettu; and the University Bursar, Mr Kabir Ogunneye, FCA.

The DiaDeRC team, led by Professor Evans Osabuohien, comprised Evans-Osabuohien Patience, Chinwe Peace Igiri, Adeniyi Abiola Mayokun, Isichie Daniel, Mrs Abiola Mayokun Aderoju, an alumnus of the university, and Loveth C. OdoOmenka.

The encounter underscored the enduring connections between the university, its alumni and wider scholarly networks.