A 3-man delegation from the Office of Research and Development (ORD) of the University of Jos visited the UNILAG Research Management Office (RMO) and Innovation and Technology Management Office (ITMO) on Monday 27 June, 2022. The visiting team comprising Prof. Musa A.B. Gaiya (Director ORD, UNIJOS), Mr. Mark Kparmak and Mr. James Ameh. The objective of the visit was to discuss with the members of the Office on models adopted by the UNILAG RMO for seamless operation, enhanced efficiency and services delivery.

The UNIJOS team also sought to gain in-depth insight into research management processes that could be replicated in UNIJOS to enhance smooth operation of their Office of Research and Development. The RMO team shared strategies and useful interventions implemented over the years to entrench international best practices for research governance and research management in pre-award and post-award processes. Research development activities and administrative services traditionally rendered at the RMO were explained to the visiting team, while also seeking to understand what works in UNIJOS. Other topics of discussion focused on the University’s grant administration policies and areas with potential for synergy, such as having a consistent and harmonized research-base salary structure, as well as having a common platform to share research management strategies, organize annual conferences on research administration, explore opportunities for joint proposal submissions for competitive international funding, and hosting a national peer-reviewed journal to share knowledge on contemporary practices in research management. The visiting team from UNIJOS were impressed by the establishment of the Research Administrators cadre in UNILAG for proper strengthening and assurance of best practices in the operation of the RMO and the domestication of the accounts unit within the RMO to facilitate ease of financial transactions relating to grants.

The Deputy Director, Dr. Abidemi Akindele, further spoke about the giant strides made by the University in attracting competitive international grants since the establishment of the Office, the RMO’s commitment to serve as a one stop-shop with capacity to provide all necessary support to faculty researchers, research groups, and research centres, while ensuring that all awarded grants are periodically monitored and evaluated in line with funders’ guidelines. Other issues discussed include the University’s dedication to cutting-edge research with the potential to make meaningful impact in society, patents and intellectual property management, promoting linkages between the town and the gown, interventions for the commercialization of research, and industry engagement for the rapid uptake of research output. Going forward, both institutions expressed interest in future mutually beneficial collaboration.