Egbewole stresses essence of impactful research
By Isaac Lewu
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has reiterated the institution’s commitment to promoting high-quality and impactful research.
Prof. Egbewole stated this while speaking at a webinar, titled “Strengthening Research Quality and Impact: Publishing, Funding and Communicating Evidence,” last Thursday (March 26, 2026)
The event brought together academics, researchers, and stakeholders in Agricultural and Applied Economics who discussed strategies for improving research outcomes and visibility.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management for organising a timely webinar aimed at strengthening research quality and impact.
He also praised the Department for addressing what he described as one of the key challenges confronting the University. He noted that the theme of the webinar was not only timely but also apt, given the growing need for research that directly contributes to societal development and policy formulation.
Prof. Egbewole emphasised that research must go beyond academic exercise to deliver measurable impact, stressing that society must be able to recognise and benefit from scholarly outputs.
He further expressed his belief in sustained funding for impactful research, assuring participants that serious and meaningful research efforts would continue to receive institutional support.
The Vice Chancellor also underscored the importance of effective communication in research, stating that any research that is not properly communicated cannot be considered impactful.
He, therefore, urged researchers to prioritise dissemination and engagement to ensure that their findings influence practice, policy, and development outcomes.
While making his keynote presentation, Prof. Marc F. Bellemare, McKnight Presidential Chair in Applied Economics and Professor at the University of Minnesota, United States of America, provided deep illuminations on what he described as the hidden curriculum in research, unwritten rules and expectations that often determine the success of academic work but are rarely taught formally.
He also noted that writing good papers is inherently difficult due to the need for clarity, originality, and methodological rigour.
Prof. Bellemare further explained the anatomy of an applied research paper, stressing that the introduction remains the most critical section as it frames the research question, establishes relevance, and captures the reader’s interest.
He highlighted causal identification as central to strong empirical research, noting that the credibility of findings depends largely on how well researchers establish cause and effect relationships in their work.
On publication processes, Prof. Bellemare discussed why peer review continues to persist as a quality control mechanism in academia, despite its challenges. He guided participants on where, when, and how to submit their papers, while also emphasising the importance of responding constructively to reviewers’ comments.
He stressed that thoughtful engagement with feedback significantly improves the quality and eventual acceptance of scholarly work.
Also speaking, Maya Ranganath, the Director of Policy and Inclusion at the Center for Effective Global Action, and Jenna Fahle, Programme Manager with the Agricultural Technology Adoption Initiative, provided participants with practical guidance on navigating research opportunities.
They highlighted a wide range of funding, collaboration, and capacity-building opportunities available to researchers, particularly those in developing countries. They urged participants to take advantage of global platforms and institutional partnerships.
The speakers emphasised the critical role of research networks in advancing academic careers, noting that strong collaborations enhance knowledge exchange, improve research quality, and increase visibility.
They equally encouraged early-career researchers to actively engage in professional communities, attend conferences, and build relationships that can open doors to joint projects and international recognition.
On research communication, Ranganath and Fahle stressed the need for scholars to present their findings in clear, accessible formats that can reach policymakers, practitioners, and the wider public.
They also outlined pathways through which early-career researchers can access funding and disseminate their work, including mentorship programmes, policy briefs, and digital platforms, adding that effective communication is key to ensuring that research translates into real-world impact.
In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof. Isreal Ogunlade, expressed appreciation to the convener for assembling seasoned professionals whose presentations enriched participants with practical and insightful knowledge.
He noted that the University would soon begin to witness the outcomes of the webinar, adding that the impact would attract commendation for both the institution and partner organisations.
Prof. Ogunlade also commended the speakers for sharing their wealth of experience and expertise, describing their contributions as invaluable to strengthening research capacity within the University community.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Faculty to sustaining initiatives that promote excellence in research and innovation.
In attendance were the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho; the Director of the Centre for Research Development and In-house Training (CREDIT), Prof. Abdulkareem Oloyede and the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Dr Khadijat B. Amolegbe, among others.
