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s part of their commitment to the promotion of scholarship and research, the authorities of the University of Ilorin have released a sum of N26 million to the teaching staff of the University for research purposes.

Of the amount, N15,600,000.00 was disbursed to the Central Senate Research Grant Scheme, while the remaining sum of N10,400,00.00 was released to the ten faculties of the University and the Library under the Faculty Senate Research Grant.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. A.G.A.S Oladosu, each faculty got a flat rate of 50% of the allotted funds on the basis of equity while it got the remaining 50% on the basis of the number of academic staff it has.

Based of the foregoing, a call has been made to all lecturers to access the millions of naira available through writing applications to that effect. The guidelines for the applications, which have been made available to the various faculties/departments, are available on the University website www.unilorin.edu.ng. The applications are to be made between the beginning and 26^th of this month.

Some highlights of the guidelines of the Central Senate Research Grant are that research proposals should be university-based; the research itself must be multi-disciplinary; the research should focus on specific societal problems and the research topic should be operational, relevant, useful, unbiased and acceptable. All categories of academic staff are qualified to apply.

With the intervention of the University management, it appears the issue of lack of research funding, a cankerworm that is often touted as the bane of the university system in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive, does not arise at the University of Ilorin, which is recently adjudged by the globally respected “web ranking of world universities” as the best University in Nigeria.