Campus News

Egbewole commends ORIDSAN on promoting research-based solutions

By Tajudeen Babamale

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has commended the Operations Research Institute for Decision Sciences & Analytics of Nigeria (ORIDSAN) on its efforts in advancing the use of operations research as a tool for development, particularly in developing countries, to solve complex problems.

Prof. Egbewole gave this commendation last Tuesday (November 4, 2025) while receiving members of the Institute who paid him a courtesy visit in his office ahead of the Association’s conference hosted by the University.

Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola, the Vice Chancellor described the Institute’s work as highly relevant to contemporary global needs, noting that operations research plays a vital role in supporting data-driven decision-making in both academic and non-academic settings.

He explained that decision-making is an integral part of daily life, from simple household activities to complex research endeavours, and that operations research provides the analytical framework necessary for achieving precision, efficiency, and impactful results.

Prof. Egbewole encouraged the Association to collaborate with the University’s Postgraduate School to engage postgraduate students in operations research activities and mentorship. He stated that such partnerships would help strengthen the students’ research capacity and broaden their exposure to problem-solving approaches that align with global best practices.

Speaking during the meeting, the Vice President of the Association Latino-Iberoamericana de Investigación Operativa (ALIO), Dr Fernando Camacho, expressed his organisation’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between IFORS, his home institution, and the University of Ilorin.

Dr Camacho, who represented IFORS during the visit, said the global body is dedicated to improving the capacity of national operations research societies around the world. With more than 55 member countries, he noted, IFORS continues to support the growth of operational research in Africa, encouraging participation through initiatives such as the Unilorin-hosted conference.

He stated that the federation is exploring new opportunities to support African institutions and researchers to integrate fully into the global operations research network and leverage collaborative research for sustainable development.

Also speaking, the Director of the UNILORIN Business School, Prof. Ismaila Bolarinwa Kadiri, stated that the Association brings together professionals from both the Sciences and Management disciplines, saying that any field that applies quantitative or mathematical techniques for decision-making naturally falls within the scope of operations research.

Prof. Kadiri explained the importance of precision in modern decision-making, noting that contemporary challenges require accuracy and analytical insight rather than guesswork. He described operations research as a vital tool for organisations and governments seeking to make data-driven and impactful decisions.