Prof. Evans Osabuohien
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On 15th and 16th February 2024, Professor Evans Osabuohien, alongside a distinguished team of academics, researchers, and government stakeholders, spearheaded a ground-breaking workshop poised to redefine scholarly careers in Africa. The workshop, centred on Grant Writing, Winning, and Cultivating a Rewardable Scholarly Career in Africa, marked a pivotal moment in Professor Evans’ ongoing commitment to social impact initiatives and positively changing the scholarly narrative in the continent.
Hosted by the DePECOS Institutions and Development Research Centre (DIaDeRC) in collaboration with Tai-Solarin University of Education (TASUED), the event aimed to illuminate the vital role of research in Africa and provide avenues to secure funding through mastering grantsmanship. The opening session encapsulated address from the Vice Chancellor of TASUED and a stirring welcome address by the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.
Professor Evans, the Lead Economist and Chair of DIaDeRC, set the tone for the workshop with an impassioned speech on the state of research and scholarly pursuit in Africa. He emphasised the importance of pursuing scholarly excellence as “knowledge uploaders” rather than mere “downloaders,” urging attendees to seek collaborative opportunities across disciplines and geographical boundaries. Additionally, Professor Evans introduced DIaDeRC HR Solutions, a platform designed to bridge the gap between employers and job seekers in a concerted effort to combat widespread unemployment.
Notably, the workshop was a physical extension of the Virtual Series on Grant Writing under the African Scholars Mentorship Network (ASMN), anchored by DIaDeRC. The event attracted scholars and aspiring researchers from esteemed institutions such as Covenant University, Bells University of Technology, Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, and Lagos State University, among others.
Apart from Prof Evans Osabuohien who served as the lead facilitator for the workshop, there were presentations from partner organisations namely Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) given by Ms Olasubomi Obadeyi and EduTAMS given by Dr Ademola Adenubi. Other areas covered that added valuable insights to the workshop entailed insights from quantitative and qualitative analysis; Mentor-Mentee Relationship Management; and Leveraging Technology for Research as well as breakout sessions where participants were grouped into five thematic areas where they presented their concept notes.
The resounding success of the TASUED-DIaDeRC workshop reverberated across the nation, with testimonials pouring in from attendees praising the practical insights shared and the calibre of the facilitators. Beyond empowering individual scholars, the event epitomized DIaDeRC’s mission of Honing Knowledge for Transforming Lives.
Professor Evans’ leadership and vision have once again catalysed positive change, impacted the participants, and echoed the transformative mission of DIaDeRC. As Africa’s scholarly landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like these serve as rays of hope, driving progress and fostering a culture of excellence in research and academia.
