By Ayo Ayodele
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has announced a personal donation of ₦100 million to Akwa Ibom State University to support high-impact research aimed at addressing pressing national and regional challenges.
Prof. Yilwatda made the announcement on Thursday in Uyo, stating that the fund is dedicated to strengthening research output that translates academic knowledge into practical solutions with direct societal and economic benefits.
In addition to the financial support, the APC chairman pledged to connect the university’s Vice Chancellor with relevant authorities in the United States to facilitate the establishment of a world-class research institute on the university campus. He said the initiative would enhance global competitiveness among students and position the institution as a hub of innovation.
The donation, he explained, aligns with his advocacy for repositioning Nigerian universities as engines of innovation, national development and global relevance.
“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 said.
Prof. Yilwatda noted that Nigeria currently invests less than 0.5 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product in research, far below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) benchmark of about 2 per cent. He described the gap as an opportunity for visionary intervention rather than a limitation.
He said the research fund would prioritise critical areas 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.
According to him, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence-driven modelling, big data analytics and global digital research platforms must be deployed to ensure research delivers measurable societal impact, particularly in environmentally sensitive and resource-rich regions like Akwa Ibom State.
Drawing from global best practices, he cited institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University as examples where interdisciplinary research and strong industry linkages have driven regional development and global innovation ecosystems.
He expressed confidence that Akwa Ibom State University could replicate similar success by aligning its research focus with local strengths while maintaining a global outlook.
Prof. Yilwatda further proposed increasing the research grant if the initial ₦100 million is transparently and effectively utilised. He pledged to personally supervise and monitor the implementation of funded projects to ensure accountability, excellence and measurable outcomes.
He also emphasised the importance of international collaboration and digital connectivity, suggesting the creation of virtual research clusters, co-supervised doctoral programmes and online visiting scholar initiatives to position Uyo as a visible node in the global knowledge network.
The APC chairman stressed that strengthening research must go hand in hand with improving teaching quality. He advocated for blended learning models, AI-driven adaptive systems, virtual laboratories and immersive simulations, particularly in marine biology, offshore engineering and energy analytics.
Describing the donation as both a commitment and a challenge, he urged the university community to treat research funding as a responsibility to deliver solutions that uplift society and strengthen national development.
“This intervention is about building capacity, credibility, and confidence in Nigerian research. When research is impactful, universities become catalysts of development, and nations become globally competitive,” he said.
The donation marks a significant boost to research development at the institution and signals deeper collaboration between political leadership and academia in advancing national growth.
The statement was signed by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the APC National Chairman on Media and Communications Strategy.
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