John Ovie
Federal University Otuoke has reiterated the need for a shift from theoretical scholars to practical, impact-driven research as it convened 2026 Research Workshop.
The workshop with the Theme “Effective Research Administration.” held at the School of Postgraduate Studies Auditorium, West Campus brought together academic, senior non-teaching, technical staff, and postgraduate students under a structured capacity-building programme designed to strengthen research systems, improve productivity, and align scholarly output with societal needs.
The event was preceded by courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor, the Chief Host, Professor Promise Mebine by facilitators.
The VC in his address while welcoming the facilitators identified a persistent disconnect between research efforts in Nigerian universities and their tangible outcomes.
He acknowledged the intellectual strength within the academic system in the country but questioned the visibility and usability of its outputs.
According to him, the central issue is not the absence of knowledge, but the inability to translate research findings into products, services and solutions that directly impact positively on the society.
Mebine challenged participants to rethink the purpose of academic writing, stressing that publications should not remain confined to journals or institutional repositories but should evolve into innovations capable of addressing local challenges and generating economic value.
He emphasized that research must begin from and respond to the immediate environment, noting that Nigeria possesses abundant raw materials and untapped opportunities for innovation.
Using locally grounded illustrations, he highlighted the importance of indigenous knowledge systems and resource utilization, urging scholars to explore how everyday materials within their surroundings can be transformed into functional products and called for stronger collaboration across disciplines, adding that research productivity is enhanced when academic and administrative systems operate cohesively.
Responding on behalf of the facilitators, the Keynote speaker Prof. Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji commended the leadership of the university for prioritizing research relevance and institutional transformation.
He noted that his initial impressions of Bayelsa state pointed to significant untapped economic potentials, particularly within the blue economy and green innovation sectors.
