By Grace Udofia
United Kingdom Research Institute (UKRI) has awarded the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Nigeria, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia and Makerere University, Uganda, a research grant worth 1.9 million pounds.
The UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, made this known during a virtual/physical National Inception Workshop of the Migration, Urbanisation and Conflict in Africa (MUCA) Research Project in Lagos.
Ogundipe who was represented by the school’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Academics, Oluwole Familoni, explained that the grant, is for a three-year research project (2021-2023) and benefitting universities are expected to support in building research capacities at some other young participating African universities.
According to him the participating universities includes Hawassa in Ethiopia, Gulu in Uganda, as well as the University of Jos.
He noted that the research grant is one of six awarded under the UKRI-GCRF African Universities Research Alliance (ARUA) Research Excellence programme.
He said, “The research project would focus on unraveling the complexities surrounding migration and urbanisation in Africa, the attendant conflicts and finally chart the pathway to peaceful urban futures.
“This workshop, in kicking off the research, seeks to co-create the sustainable pathway to peace in our cities with stakeholders such as ourselves, private practitioners, policy makers, international development agencies and others.
“The future of African cities cannot be determined outside science policy engagement.
“Effective development strategies cannot be developed without the contributions of knowledge institutions.
“Providing the evidence base for targeted policies and actions in peace keeping, peace-making and peace building in Nigerian cities is a game changer.
“The University of Lagos and all other partner universities in this MUCA project bring that expertise as subject specialists and bridge builders for a more sustainable future.
“Our faculty members are once again showing our strength and expertise in research and our capacity to collaborate effectively with other universities internationally, to jointly undertake ground-breaking multidisciplinary research aimed at improving our societies”.
