Egbewole presents car prize to 2025 Researcher of the Year
By Mubarak Oladosu and Tajudeen Babamale
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has presented a car prize to the institution’s 2025 Researcher of the Year, Dr AbdulGafar Fahm, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to research and scholarship.
Dr Fahm was named the Researcher of the Year during the 40th Convocation Ceremony Merit Award last October.
The presentation ceremony held last Tuesday (March 24, 2026) formed part of the University’s broader commitment to strengthening its research culture, promoting academic excellence, and incentivising impactful scholarly output among members of staff.
Speaking during the brief event, the Vice Chancellor congratulated Dr Fahm on emerging as the top researcher in a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, noting that the annual selection process is designed to identify not only volume of publications but also the relevance, originality, and societal impact of research contributions.
Prof. Egbewole stressed that the Researcher of the Year award represents a responsibility rather than a final destination, urging the recipient to leverage the recognition as a platform for greater productivity and influence.
He noted that the honour places an obligation on the awardee to deepen the impact of his research within the University, contribute meaningfully to national development, and address pressing societal challenges through scholarly work.
Prof. Egbewole, expressed confidence that the awardee’s continued research output would contribute significantly to the institution’s academic reputation. He said, “It is our hope that by the time that your one-year occupation of this office as Researcher of the Year is lapsing, our ranking will have improved by your efforts”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the University Merit Award Committee, Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, explained that the selection process was guided by strict adherence to transparency, credibility, and measurable indicators of academic excellence.
He added that the award package was deliberately structured to reflect the prestige associated with the honour, culminating in the presentation of a brand-new Toyota Camry, customised to reflect the University’s identity. According to him, the initiative is part of a deliberate policy to motivate academic staff, foster healthy competition, and sustain a culture of excellence in research and innovation.
In a chat with UNILORIN Bulletin, the awardee who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religions, appreciated the University management for the recognition, describing the honour as both motivating and humbling.
While addressing prevailing assumptions about disparities in research opportunities across disciplines, acknowledging that while science-based fields often attract higher levels of funding, the humanities equally offer viable avenues for impactful research. He pointed out that the University’s evaluation framework takes into account the peculiarities of different disciplines, thereby ensuring fairness and inclusivity in the award process.
Dr Fahm, who is also a LUCAS-LAHRI Virtual Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, encouraged scholars, particularly within the humanities, to actively explore available funding opportunities and pursue innovative research that transcends conventional academic boundaries.
Looking ahead, the UNILORIN Researcher of the Year 2025 identified the award as a catalyst for deeper scholarly inquiry and a shift towards more impact-driven research. He revealed his ongoing involvement in a project focused on developing a technological application designed to assist visually impaired students in tertiary institutions that will enable them to access and read academic materials more effectively and enhancing their learning experience.
