RismadarVoice Reporters, February 26, 2026
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has announced a ₦100 million grant for Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) to support research initiatives targeted at driving societal and economic development.
The announcement was made in a press statement issued on Thursday, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Abimbola Tooki.
According to the statement, the grant is aimed at promoting “cutting-edge research with direct societal and economic impact,” in line with Yilwatda’s advocacy for repositioning Nigerian universities as centres of innovation, national development and global competitiveness.
Yilwatda also pledged to facilitate international collaboration by linking the Vice Chancellor of the university with appropriate authorities in the United States to support the establishment of a world-class research institute on the institution’s campus. He said the initiative would help make students “globally competitive.”
He explained that the research fund would focus on strengthening output that addresses pressing national challenges and translates academic knowledge into practical solutions.
“Research is the soul of a world-class university, but research without impact remains ineffective unless it illuminates society, informs policy, and fuels innovation,” Yilwatda said.
The APC chairman observed that Nigeria’s investment in research remains below 0.5 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), significantly lower than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) benchmark of two per cent. He described the gap as “not a limitation, but a clear opportunity for visionary intervention.”
The grant, he said, would prioritise high-impact areas critical to Nigeria’s development, including flood modelling in coastal communities, climate adaptation strategies in the Niger Delta, optimisation of offshore oil production, sustainable fisheries management, and renewable energy integration.
Yilwatda emphasized the need to deploy emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence-driven modelling, big data analytics and global digital research platforms to ensure practical and beneficial outcomes, particularly in resource-rich and environmentally sensitive regions like Akwa Ibom State.
Drawing from global best practices, he referenced leading institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University, noting that interdisciplinary research and strong industry linkages have driven regional development and innovation ecosystems in those environments.
He expressed confidence that AKSU could replicate similar success by aligning its research priorities with local strengths while maintaining a global outlook.
In addition to the ₦100 million donation, Yilwatda proposed increasing the grant if the initial funds are “transparently and effectively utilised.” He also pledged to personally supervise and monitor the implementation of the research projects to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes.
Highlighting the importance of international collaboration, he stated that modern universities must operate locally while competing globally. He suggested that through virtual research clusters, co-supervised doctoral programmes and online visiting scholar arrangements, the university could position Uyo as a visible node in the global knowledge network.
Yilwatda further stressed that strengthening research must be accompanied by improvements in teaching and learning quality. He advocated for the adoption of blended learning models, AI-driven adaptive systems, virtual laboratories and immersive simulations, particularly in disciplines such as 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 rather than an entitlement.
“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 statement added that the donation marks a milestone in collaboration between political leadership and academia, with the goal of transforming Akwa Ibom State University into a globally relevant centre of excellence.
