UNILORIN seeks researchers for World Bank-funded digital economy project
By Mustafa Abubakar
The Centre for Research Development and In-House Training (CREDIT), University of Ilorin, has invited qualified academic staff to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to participate in a World Bank-funded research initiative under the National Digital Economy Research Clusters Programme (Project BRIDGE).
In a statement issued penultimate Sunday(March 29, 2026), the Director of CREDIT, Prof. Abdulkarim Oloyede, disclosed that the University is assembling a consortium comprising four Nigerian universities, including UNILORIN, alongside two foreign institutions, to bid for one or more of the six thematic research clusters, each valued at 15 million dollars. The project is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy.
According to him, the consortium requires a strong pool of researchers to meet the programme’s minimum requirement of at least 15 post-doctoral researchers and 15 Ph.D. candidates actively engaged in research activities.
He called on interested staff members to submit their EOIs via email to the Director of CREDIT, noting that applications are particularly encouraged from scholars in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, as well as related fields such as Economics, Sociology of Technology, Law and Digital Rights.
Prof. Oloyede explained that submissions must clearly demonstrate alignment with any of the six thematic clusters and include evidence of relevant academic and research experience, such as publications, doctoral supervision, and involvement in policy-driven or digital economy-related research.
He added that only applicants who meet the submission deadlines would be invited to a mandatory meeting where the consortium’s research structure and proposal roles would be finalised.
The Director further urged more academics to take advantage of the opportunity, noting that the initiative is a multi-million-dollar consultancy tailored for researchers and academics.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the University to advancing cutting-edge research and fostering global academic collaboration through strategic initiatives in the digital economy.
