Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, is stepping up efforts to boost its research profile and improve access to competitive funding. The university recently held the second edition of its Concept Note Writing training programme for members of the university community.
Tagged “Concept Note Writing 2.0,” the programme was organised by the Directorate of Research and External Relations (DRER). It forms part of the implementation of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oladipo’s STARWIN Agenda. The training aims to equip researchers with practical skills for developing clear, compelling, and fundable concept notes and research proposals that can compete successfully for national and international grants.
Strengthening Research Visibility Through Better Proposal Writing
Speaking at the programme, the Director of DRER, Prof. Olufunke Ekine, emphasised that strengthening TASFUED’s research visibility requires more than producing quality research. Researchers must also communicate their ideas effectively to funding bodies.
“For us as an institution to get visibility, we need our research out there in the open. For our research to be funded, we need to be able to write good concept notes and proposals that will attract the National Research Fund (NRF), Institutional-Based Grants (IBG), and several other international grants,” she said.
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Prof. Ekine, who has herself benefited from research grants on several occasions, noted that the training was designed to transfer practical experience to academic staff and interested non-teaching staff.
Participants learned how to identify appropriate funding opportunities and develop applications that respond directly to the specific requirements of grant calls.
Call for Wider Participation
The Director of the Directorate of Academic Planning, Quality Assurance and Accreditation (DAPQA), Prof. Jimoh Owoyele, described the programme as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening the university’s research culture and improving researchers’ competitiveness for available funding.
Owoyele, who served as one of the resource persons, said the training was particularly timely because of the ongoing call for applications for the National Research Fund.
“We want as many participants as possible from TASFUED,” he said.
He encouraged researchers to collaborate, exchange ideas, and develop proposals capable of competing for funding rather than approaching research as an isolated academic exercise. Owoyele linked the importance of research to the continuous evolution of human civilisation and the emergence of new challenges that require evidence-based solutions.
According to him, research remains a major instrument for expanding knowledge and addressing societal problems. This makes it especially important for TASFUED, as a university dedicated to education and teacher development, to maintain a strong research and innovation culture.
Key Sessions Covered in the Training
The programme featured specialised sessions covering the critical stages of developing a competitive concept note and grant application:
• Prof. Jimoh Owoyele facilitated “The Dos and Don’ts of Concept Note Writing,” highlighting important considerations when preparing concept notes for potential funders.
• Prof. Zubair Soluade handled the session on “Methodology, Timeline and Grant Chart.”
• Prof. Olufunke Ekine facilitated the session on “Budgeting.”
• Dr Oyesolape Akinsipo delivered “Ready Sources for Funding,” exposing participants to potential avenues for identifying funding opportunities.
Academic staff from the College of Science and Information Technology (COSIT), College of Specialised and Professional Education (COSMAS), and College of Humanities (COHUM) took part in the training.
Building a Stronger Research Ecosystem
The initiative reflects TASFUED’s continuing effort to move its research activities beyond knowledge production towards greater research visibility, grant acquisition, collaboration, and measurable societal impact.
By strengthening researchers’ ability to translate research ideas into structured and fundable proposals, the university seeks to expand the number of its staff participating in competitive funding opportunities while building a stronger institutional research ecosystem. This approach positions TASFUED to better compete for resources from the National Research Fund, Institutional-Based Grants, and various international funding schemes.
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