Last Updated on October 16, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Femi Dansu & David Johnson
Researchers have been urged to strengthen their grant-seeking, proposal-writing and grant-management skills to improve their chances of securing research funding and increasing the impact of their work.
The call was underscored at a workshop on grant writing and winning organised as part of the closing activities of the 3rd International Biennial Conference of the College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), today, October 15, 2026. The conference, which opened on October 13, was themed “Innovation at the Intersection of Science, Environment, Agriculture, Climate, Health, and Artificial Intelligence.”
Speaking on Winning, Managing and Leveraging Research and Development Grants, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), FUNAAB, Prof. Kola Adebayo, highlighted the competitive nature of research funding and the need for researchers to build strong professional visibility, demonstrate the impact of their work and sustain continuous improvement.
His presentation addressed competitive bidding, identifying grant opportunities, improving the chances of securing funding, and managing and leveraging grants. He also emphasised the value of making research achievements more visible to strengthen researchers’ profiles and enhance the wider impact of their work.
Earlier, the former Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, FUNAAB, Prof. Olufemi Ojo, delivered a presentation titled Finding Opportunities and Grant Writing: Crafting Compelling Grant Proposals, Budget Planning, and Justification.
Prof. Ojo addressed the skills required to become a competitive researcher and attract research funding, outlining key stages of proposal development and important considerations in preparing applications. His presentation also covered internal review before submission, the submission process and research grant funding agencies.
In a presentation titled Practical Guide to Writing Grant and Research Proposals, the Director of the Institute of Human Resources Development (INHURD), FUNAAB, Prof. Sheriff Adewuyi, focused on the practical requirements of developing competitive proposals. His session covered proposal structure and essential writing principles for researchers seeking to prepare clear, persuasive applications for funding.
Prof. Adeniyi Afolabi of the Department of Chemistry, FUNAAB, the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee for the conference, examined funding opportunities in his presentation, How to Source for Grants/Funds. He explained the concept and types of research grants, approaches to identifying potential funding sources, and the range of grant opportunities and funding agencies available in different parts of the world.
The workshop formed part of the conference’s broader engagement with research and innovation, providing a platform for participants to consider the processes involved in identifying funding opportunities, preparing proposals and managing research grants.
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