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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Prof Yilwatda equally announced a personal donation of N100 million to the University to support cutting-edge research with direct societal and economic impact.
He pledged to link the Vice Chancellor with appropriate authorities in the United States of America (USA) to set up a world class institute with the University campus, promising to make the students of the institution globally competitive.
Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the national chairman of APC (Media and Communications Strategy), in a statement noted that Yilwatda made the donation in line with his strong advocacy for repositioning Nigerian universities as engines of innovation, national development and global competitiveness.
He stated that the grant is dedicated to strengthening research output that addresses pressing national challenges and translates knowledge into practical solutions.
According to him, research is the soul of a world-class university, but research without impact remains ineffective unless it illuminates society, informs policy and fuels innovation.
He noted that Nigeria’s investment in research remains below 0.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), far beneath the OECD benchmark of two percent, describing the gap not as a limitation, but as a clear opportunity for visionary intervention.
He explained that the research fund is expected to prioritise high-impact areas critical to Nigeria’s present and future, including flood modelling in coastal regions, climate adaptation strategies in the Niger Delta, optimisation of offshore oil production, sustainable fisheries management and renewable energy integration.
He emphasised that emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence-driven modelling, big data analytics and global digital research platforms, must be deployed to move research from abstract theory to tangible societal impact, particularly in resource-rich and environmentally sensitive regions like Akwa Ibom State.
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Drawing lessons from global best practices, the APC chairman referenced leading institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University, where interdisciplinary research and strong industry linkages have driven regional development and global innovation ecosystems.
He stressed that Akwa Ibom State University has the potential to replicate such success by aligning research with local strengths while maintaining a global outlook.
In addition to the financial donation, he proposed to increase the research grant if the initial N100 million is transparently and effectively utilised. He further pledged to personally supervise and monitor the implementation of the research projects, ensuring accountability, excellence and measurable outcomes.
He also highlighted the importance of international collaboration and digital connectivity, noting that modern universities must operate locally while competing globally. Through virtual research clusters, co-supervised doctoral programmes and online visiting scholars, Akwa Ibom State University, he said, could position Uyo as a visible nod in the global knowledge network.
He reaffirmed that strengthening research must go hand in hand with improving the quality of teaching and learning.
He advocated the adoption of blended learning models, AI-driven adaptive systems, virtual laboratories and immersive simulations, particularly in marine biology, offshore engineering and energy analytics, to prepare students for a technology-driven global economy.
While describing the donation as both a commitment and a challenge, he urged the university community to see research funding not as an entitlement, but as a responsibility to deliver solutions that uplift society, strengthen industry and advance national development.
“This intervention is about building capacity, credibility and confidence in Nigerian research. When research is impactful, universities become catalysts for development and nations become globally competitive,” he said.
The donation marks a significant milestone in the partnership between leadership, academia and national development, reinforcing the shared vision of transforming the university into a globally relevant centre of excellence.
