Central State, Nigerian government teaming up to train researchers, academics

Researchers and academics from Nigeria seeking to enhance their grant writing skills will attend week-long workshops at Central State University’s newly established Cynthia Jackson-Hammond Institute for Professional Development.

The partnership is expected to occur over the next four years.

The Institute, housed within the College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture (CESTA), is named after CSU’s outgoing president and will serve as an international leadership and professional development center. Through this collaboration with the Nigerian government, CSU will officially begin training leaders on a global scale.

The first workshop is scheduled to begin Feb. 24 at the CSU’s facility at the Xenia YMCA, 336 Progress Drive.

“This conference was organized for research academics in Nigerian public universities,” said Dr. Ibrahim Katampe, conference organizer and assistant director of Innovation and Technology Transfer for CESTA at CSU.

“The February event is the first of many that will take place over the course of the next four years and was designed specifically to train academicians in Nigerian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) with current knowledge and skill required to write a fundable research proposal that meets international standards.”

Dr. Jackson-Hammond has been an ardent supporter of international engagement and is especially committed to partnerships with Nigeria.

This opportunity “allows us to integrate Central State University’s scholarship and professional development with Nigeria’s influential and brightest minds,” said Dr. Hammond. “We are honored to be partners in this global expansion of connectivity.”

According to the National Universities Commission, Nigeria has 43 federal universities, 48 state universities, and 79 private universities and about 120 Polytechnics and Colleges of Agriculture.

There are 82 colleges of education in Nigeria.