By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Professor Kate Omenugha, on Wednesday, 21st February, inaugurated the Research Management Office (RMO) Team with a call on them to identify private sector research needs which, she said, might be met through collaboration with COOU’s researchers and as well, facilitate linkages with the private sector for the sponsorship of research conducted in the university.
Inaugurating the members of RMO, the seasoned educationist charged them to provide a directory of private sector research development activities, develop and submit proposals that were satisfactory to funding agencies and create a research hub of young scholars and postgraduate students knowledgeable in grant and proposal writing.
According to her, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) recognized the importance of research and thus set up the Research Management Office that would replace the Research and Innovation Office of the university
The two-term Commissioner for Education, Anambra State, said the RMO was primarily composed of academics and scholars who were expected to fast-track research advancement processes through multidisciplinary approaches consciously targeted at funded research, using innovative approaches to access various grants.
‘Specifically, we target the National Research Funds, TETfunds, grants from funding agencies, private sector, Erasmus/Erasmus plus, international linkages and collaborations.
‘It is hoped that the RMO would aid the university in the visibility and viability we seek,’ the Acting Vice Chancellor stated.
Speaking on RMO’s mandates, Professor Omenugha urged the team to enhance the visibility of university staff through facilitation and setting up of comprehensive and accurate profile of all staff members on Google Scholar, Research Gate, Scopus, web of science, etc, as well as monitor the status of research profiles; even as she said that they would also serve as the advisory team for research policies and develop handbooks for intellectual property policy and university ethical standards for research
The university don tasked them to provide a university friendly legal framework for the negotiation of grants and research contracts, ensure financial probity, transparency, accountability and ethical considerations in the research processes and monitor same, identify, develop, protect and the market university intellectual property and patents.
Her words, ‘RMO has the following mandate: to put in proper perspective and develop the goals, vision, mission and structure of the RMO; Identify and vigorously pursue NGOs, private individuals, corporate organizations, companies, ministries, etc., interested in research activities, funding and providing support to universities; reinvigorate research activities in the university and institute an enviable research culture; work vigorously to access the National Research Funds and place the university among the list of celebrated universities in research and development.’
She also charged them to galvanize the eco system of the university to be more responsive in proffering solutions to national and global challenges through innovative and multidisciplinary research, as well as community engagements.
The newly inaugurated RMO members are: Prof J.C. Ifemeje, Director; Dr John Bosco Egbueri, Associate Director; Dr Chinonso S. Ekesiobi, Associate Director; Prof Ngozi Ikechebelu, Head, Collaboration & Linkages; Dr Uju Muogbo, Associate Head, Collaboration & Linkages; Dr Lawrence Uche Okoye, Collaboration & Linkages; Dr Ikechukwu Emmanuel Asika, Collaboration & Linkages; Dr Odira Okeke, Collaboration and linkages; Prof Johnpaul Iloh, Head, Intellectual Property & Patents; Prof Uchechukwu V. Okpala, Associate Head, Intellectual Property & Patents; Dr Ruth Afunwa, Intellectual Property & Patents; Dr Izuchukwu Ifedi, Intellectual Property & Patents; Dr Ikenna Ibeh, Legal; Rev. Fr. Justin Ileka, Legal; Dr Chinelo Iyama, Account/Finance; Dr Ifeyinwa Obi, Account/Finance.
Presentation of an operational vehicle and one official laptop to each team member formed the highpoints of the occasion.
