The Central Office of Research (CoR) at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, convened a significant meeting on the 13th of October at the University Conference Centre. This meeting brought together key university stakeholders to revisit and enhance the university’s research policy, which was first initiated in 2017 under the leadership of Prof. Ogundaini.

The event was graced by the presence of prominent academic leaders, including the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Simeon Bamire, who delivered an appreciative speech, acknowledging the diligent efforts of attendees in reevaluating the 2012 research policy. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation, and Development, Prof. Akanni Akinyemi, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Administration, Prof. ‘Yomi Daramola, also commended the participants for their valuable contributions.

Dr. Ijisakin presented a compelling case for creating a unified “brand” for the University, emphasizing the importance of consistent templates and documents across all official representations, from presentation templates to business cards and email signatures. This effort is aimed at projecting a consistent image of the University in every aspect.

In addition, Prof. Grace Ogunlusi provided an insightful presentation on the role of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPPTO) in research. She emphasized the IPPTO’s significance in research commercialization and outlined the functions of its subunits, including the patent information and documentation unit, the IP management unit, and the marketing unit. Prof. Ogunlusi also proposed amendments to enhance a standalone IP policy for the university, focusing on the identification and protection of viable patents.

Participants engaged in breakout sessions focusing on selected chapters of the University Research Policy, covering various aspects such as funding, grants, research repository, training, ethics, assessment, and research information management. These sessions generated an array of constructive recommendations.

The Directors of the CoR received the recommendations and pledged to incorporate them into the upcoming university research policy. The meeting was a resounding success, underlining the commitment of OAU to advancing research excellence and innovation.