Distinguished professors, academics and post-graduate students from across universities in Nigeria gathered at the Lecture Hall of the School of Postgraduate Studies, Benson Idahosa University, Ugbor GRA, Benin City, on Tuesday for a two-day hands-on grantsmanship workshop.
The workshop, themed “Funding Quality Research: Writing a Grant-winning Proposal and Strengthening Academic Writing Skills”, was organised by the Directorate of Research and Innovation of the Benson Idahosa University, in collaboration with IWEMI.
The workshop involved a practical step by step process in developing and writing winning research proposals.
Speaking on the opening day of the workshop on Tuesday, 6th May 2025, the guest speaker, Professor John Igoli, a recipient of several grants including $500,000 GC-ADDA, £150,000 GG-NHS, and $75,000 IFS grant, emphasised on the importance of writing research grant proposals.
Prof Igoli, a former Vice Chancellor of North East University, Gombe and a Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK, took participants through the process of research writing and grant.
He asked participants not to be afraid of rejection.
“You can’t get a grant unless you apply for one. It is professionally and academically fulfilling. It requires you to focus your thoughts and your research. Armed with reviewers’ comments, the second and subsequent proposals are always better and stronger,” he said.
In his address earlier, the convener of the workshop, Professor Abiodun Falodun, welcome all the participants and urged them to maximise the opportunity provided by the workshop. He also emphasised on the need for networking.
