By Adeyinka Adeniran
In response to the call for applications for Round 3 of the 100&Change MacArthur Foundation Grant Application 2024, the University of Ibadan has set up a 48-man proposal writing committee.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, is to serve as the Convener and Chairman of the Committee.
The 100&Change competition is for a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world’s most critical social challenges. The third round of 100&Change remains open to organizations and collaborations working in any field, anywhere in the world. Proposals must identify a problem and offer a solution that promises significant and durable change.
At the inauguration of the Committee, Professor Adebowale stressed the need to sustain the gains of the University from the MacArthur Foundation grants.
He said the University had reexamined its failed 2016 Proposal with a view to addressing its shortcomings.
The Vice-Chancellor said the University intends to collaborate with other MacArthur Grants beneficiary universities as well as such organisations as the Consortium for Advanced Research and Training in Africa (CARTA) and the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA).
Other Principal Officers of the University gave goodwill messages to encourage the Committee in achieving success for the institution.
The MacArthur Grants Liaison Officer, Professor Rotimi Oderinde said University of Ibadan first benefited from the MacArthur Grants in 2002, and out of the five universities identified then, UI is the only one where the MacArthur Grant is still subsisting.
He said the University of Ibadan seeks to be the hub for other African countries, especially in the areas of research and academic excellence.
A member of the Committee, Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, commended the spirit of scholarship within the University of Ibadan, saying this enables the University to dream big, provide solutions and achieve success.
