The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong, has called on female academics to embrace competitive research grants as a key driver of career advancement, innovation, and national development.
He made the call during the maiden workshop of the Association of Female Academics (AFA), University of Calabar, held at the Godswill Akpabio International Conference Centre. The workshop was themed, “Winning Competitive Grants: From Idea Development to Funded Projects.”
Describing the event as timely and impactful, Prof. Offiong said the initiative was designed to equip female scholars with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills needed to secure competitive research funding.
The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged that many female academics still face challenges in accessing research grants due to limited mentorship opportunities, institutional barriers, and systemic biases, despite producing quality research.
He noted that the workshop was more than a training exercise, describing it as an empowerment platform aimed at unlocking the research potential of women and creating equal opportunities in academia.
According to him, research excellence remains the foundation of every modern university, with competitive grants driving innovation, international collaborations, postgraduate training, and institutional growth.
Prof. Offiong encouraged participants to maximize the opportunity by actively engaging with resource persons and applying the knowledge gained to develop successful grant proposals.
He also reaffirmed the University’s commitment to supporting women in research and teaching, revealing that existing seed grant schemes and internal funding policies are being reviewed to become more inclusive and responsive to the needs of female researchers.
“We will ensure that your association thrives, that your voices are heard in our decision-making bodies, and that our policies actively promote and reward female-led research,” he said.
Chairperson of the Grant Research Committee, Engr. Prof. Faithpraise Tina, explained that the workshop was organized to strengthen the capacity of female academics to compete successfully for research grants while promoting research that addresses national and global challenges.
She said increased access to research funding would empower women scholars to contribute practical solutions in areas such as climate change, agriculture, healthcare, energy, and sustainable development.
Prof. Tina urged participants to actively participate in the sessions, interact with facilitators, and build stronger grant proposal development skills.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Research Translation: The Quadruple Helix,” Emerita Prof. Ekanem Braide highlighted government, academia, industry, and communities as the four pillars of effective research translation.
She stressed the need for stronger collaboration among the four sectors, noting that research should focus on solving real-world socio-economic, health, and environmental challenges while promoting sustainable development, especially in developing regions.
Convener of the Association of Female Academics, Prof. Amenawo Offiong, praised Dr. Mary Egbai for initiating the platform in 2023 as a WhatsApp group, which has since evolved into a vibrant association dedicated to mentorship, networking, research excellence, leadership development, and collaboration among female academics.
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