Think Tank
The University of Ibadan Research Foundation (UIRF) has established a national Think Tank to translate academic research into practical innovations, strategies, and policy recommendations that address Nigeria’s socioeconomic challenges. This initiative aligns with the university’s mission to meet societal needs by leveraging its extensive research capabilities.
Special Thematic Working Groups (STWGs): The Driving Engine
Central to the Think Tank’s operations are the Special Thematic Working Groups (STWGs), which serve as its driving engine. These groups provide platforms for experts in selected thematic fields—such as Agriculture, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Commerce, Energy, Health, Infrastructure, and Security—to critically assess challenges and opportunities within their sectors. The STWGs facilitate discussions on pathways to enhance each sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development and the health and well-being of its population.
Objectives of the STWGs
The STWGs aim to:
Identify immediate opportunities and challenges related to the contribution of research to economic development, policy options, and policy implementation.
Provide oversight for independent, objective analysis of complex problems and challenges that can be addressed to enhance each sector’s contribution to national development and public health.
Structure and Leadership
Each STWG is hosted by a member of the partnership dedicated to making research count for national development. These hosts include specialized private sector institutions, organizations, or companies actively engaged in the thematic area of the working group in Nigeria. Each STWG is led by 5-7 experts and coordinated by two Co-Chairpersons selected from the hosting institutions and the University of Ibadan.
The national leading institutions and members of the partnerships hosting the pioneer STWGs of the Think Tank Initiative and their specialty areas are:
Agriculture: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Under discussions
Commerce: Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)
Energy: Under discussions
Health: Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR)
Infrastructure: The Bank of Infrastructure
Security: Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, Ibadan
Mandate and Activities
Each STWG is mandated to co-opt expert teams of 3-5 renowned specialists to gather relevant information, create a database, and produce succinct summaries of comprehensive and systematic reviews of research findings. They analyze existing evidence and evaluate its relevance in the context of:
Identifying challenges in the thematic area concerning national development.
Highlighting new and significant scientific advances and opportunities from research to address these challenges.
Identifying critical research gaps and needs to strengthen solutions.
Providing summaries and guidance on priority areas with relevant information for innovations, strategies, and evidence to guide policies for development.
The STWGs review the reports of the co-opted experts and provide guidance and oversight in finalizing them. Each final analysis is expected to provide:
Succinct summaries of research findings useful in addressing economic challenges in the identified area.
A roadmap on education, strategies, and policy imperatives to overcome these economic challenges.
A framework to strengthen the value of knowledge and public acceptance of basic principles in the field as a platform to enhance the adoption of a ‘knowledge economy’ in Nigeria.
Conclusion
Through the Think Tank and its Special Thematic Working Groups, the University of Ibadan Research Foundation seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application. By doing so, it aims to foster sustainable economic development in Nigeria, leveraging the vast intellectual resources available within the nation’s academic institutions.