UI Inaugurates Proposal Writing Committee for MacArthur Foundation Grant
The University of Ibadan has established a 48-member Proposal Writing Committee to compete for the MacArthur Foundation's 100&Change Grant for 2024.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The University of Ibadan has inaugurated a 48-member Proposal Writing Committee. The initiative is in response to the Call for Applications for Round 3 of the McArthur foundation grant.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, who serves as the Convener and Chairman of the Committee, emphasized the importance of leveraging past experiences with the MacArthur Foundation grants. He noted that the university has critically reviewed its unsuccessful 2016 proposal to identify and rectify its shortcomings.
Professor Adebowale highlighted the university's strategy to collaborate with other MacArthur Grants beneficiary institutions, as well as organizations like the Consortium for Advanced Research and Training in Africa (CARTA) and the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA). This collaborative approach aims to strengthen the proposal and increase the chances of securing the grant.
At the inauguration, various principal officers of the university delivered goodwill messages to motivate the committee. The MacArthur Grants Liaison Officer, Professor Rotimi A. Oderinde, reflected on the university's long-standing relationship with the MacArthur Foundation, noting that the University of Ibadan has been a beneficiary since 2002 and remains the only institution from the original five to continue receiving support.
SEE MORE: UI Lecturer Promoted to Professorial Position in Biochemistry
Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, a committee member, praised the university's strong academic culture, which fosters big dreams and innovative solutions. This spirit of scholarship, he believes, positions the University of Ibadan to make significant contributions to solving critical social challenges.
The MacArthur Foundation's 100&Change competition offers a single $100 million grant to an organization or collaboration that proposes a solution to one of the world's most critical social challenges. The competition is open to entities working in any field globally, with proposals required to identify a problem and present a solution that promises significant and lasting change.
READ ALSO: UI Wins Grand Prizes at Huawei ICT Competition
This ambitious endeavor by the University of Ibadan aims not only to secure the grant but also to solidify its status as a hub of research and academic excellence in Africa.
