Prof. Ekanem Braide, Pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Lafia, has urged Nigerian universities to base their research on issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to accelerate national development.
Delivering the BOWEN University Convocation Lecture in Iwo, Osun State, Braide said education remains the most crucial factor in achieving the SDGs, noting that “if education is gotten right, poverty will be reduced, and development will progress faster.”
She called on universities to drive community development through impactful research and outreach. “If a university exists in a location and that location remains unchanged, then the university is not fulfilling its mandate,” she stated.
Braide advocated for the establishment of a National Research Foundation and a Research Data Bank, with all universities as members, to strengthen research collaboration and achieve policy-driven outcomes.
She also emphasised the importance of stronger partnerships among academia, government, industry, and communities to translate research into practical solutions. “There is an urgency to act fast to ensure that research feeds policy and innovation,” she added.
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