University of Ibadan DVC Says Research Impact Now Defines University Excellence

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter O. Olapegba, has stated that modern universities are no longer evaluated mainly by student population or the physical appearance of their campuses, but by the relevance and impact of their research output.

He made the remark while speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor during an academic engagement at the institution, stressing that global university rankings and institutional credibility are now strongly tied to how research contributes to solving societal problems.

According to him, universities must move beyond focusing on infrastructure development alone and place greater emphasis on producing knowledge that addresses real-world challenges in areas such as healthcare, technology, agriculture, education, and national development.

Professor Olapegba explained that research relevance has become a critical benchmark for measuring the performance and visibility of higher institutions across the world. He added that institutions that fail to invest in impactful research risk losing global competitiveness and academic influence.

He further noted that collaboration between universities, industries, policymakers, and international partners is necessary to strengthen innovation and improve the practical application of academic research.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor also encouraged scholars and researchers to focus on studies capable of driving development and influencing policy, rather than pursuing research work with little societal value.

He maintained that universities must continue adapting to changing global academic standards, where measurable impact, innovation, and problem-solving capacity increasingly determine institutional reputation.