UNIVERSITY OF JOS STRENGTHENS GLOBAL RESEARCH AMBITIONS THROUGH HORIZON EUROPE GRANT WORKSHOP

UNIVERSITY OF JOS STRENGTHENS GLOBAL RESEARCH AMBITIONS THROUGH HORIZON EUROPE GRANT WORKSHOP

The University of Jos has taken a significant step towards expanding its global research footprint with a two-day capacity-building workshop designed to enhance the institution's success in securing Horizon Europe research grants.

Organised by the University's Office of Research and Development (ORD) in collaboration with Cognity Advisory, a European Union research and training consultancy, the workshop brought together representatives from departments across the University's 16 faculties. The training focused on equipping participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to compete successfully for Horizon Europe funding opportunities.

One of the lead facilitators, Professor Ayodele Ajayi of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, who serves as Nigeria's National Contact Point (NCP) Lead for Horizon Europe, provided participants with valuable insights into the Horizon Europe Africa Initiative IV and its implications for the University of Jos. He explained that the initiative is one of the world's largest research and innovation funding programmes, with priority areas spanning public health, green transition, innovation and technology, and scientific capacity development.

Professor Ajayi noted that the programme seeks to translate policy commitments into tangible research collaborations by inviting universities, businesses, civil society organisations and other stakeholders from Europe and Africa to submit competitive proposals.

Also speaking at the workshop, Dr. Maruf Sanni, Nigeria's National Contact Point for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under Horizon Europe and Deputy Director of Research at the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), highlighted the numerous opportunities available through the MSCA programme. He guided participants on identifying relevant Horizon Europe funding calls and demonstrated effective tools, portals and proposal-search techniques.

Dr. Sanni encouraged participants to identify suitable funding opportunities before the close of the workshop, stressing that the MSCA programme offers immense benefits to individual researchers and institutions while contributing to national development through research excellence and international collaboration.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Joshua Pam Chollom, welcomed participants and urged them to maximise the opportunity to position the University for greater global impact. He noted that the institution's growing international recognition, including its ranking among Nigeria's leading universities, underscores the importance of strengthening its research capacity.

Professor Chollom added that the workshop aligns with the University's core mandate of advancing research, innovation and knowledge creation.

Throughout the highly interactive workshop, participants engaged in practical sessions and were reminded that Horizon Europe funding is open to researchers across a broad range of disciplines, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences and the natural sciences.

The workshop concluded with renewed optimism that researchers at the University of Jos are well positioned to leverage the institution's supportive research environment, strategic vision and commitment to innovation, inclusivity and excellence in delivering impactful research that addresses societal challenges while strengthening the University's global research profile.

Tongdyen D.S. Dachung