By Ikenna Nwokedi
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka in collaboration with the Centre for Bioethics and Research (CBR), University of Ibadan has held a two-day training for her teaching staff on research ethics, grant writing and intellectual property.
The two-day workshop was held from Wednesday, 10th to Thursday, 11th April 2024 at the Chisco Institute for Transportation Studies with the caption: “Institutional Training on Responsible Conduct of Research.”
In his remarks while declaring the event open, UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone commended the centre for the wonderful assignment which he said resonates with his vision of ‘Project 200’. The VC described the training as strategic and essential for teaching staff as it will enhance their capacity research wise and aid their competence in the aspect of securing funding for intensive research via available national and international grants.
The scholar thanked the resource persons for earmarking UNIZIK as a fertile ground in their quest of producing world class scholars who will change the course of academics by cascading what has been learnt to other staff members and students of the institution.
Earlier on the Programme Coordinator, Mr. Adesola Adeyemo thanked Prof. Esimone for his vision, support and providing the enabling environment for the training. Adeyemo informed that for participants to be eligible to apply and access US based grants they need to undergo face to face training for a minimum of 8 hours.
He also disclosed that the coming of the centre has led to the advent of Research Integrity Office for the institution with Pharmacist Lizette Ezenekwe now the institution’s Research Integrity Officer who will now interface with the National Research Integrity Office. He further disclosed that the training has been held in 12 institutions across the country with 7 more set for their own training in the course of the year.
On her part, the Convener of the program, Pharm. Lizette Ezenekwe stated that the essence of the programme for staff members of the University is to create awareness on Bioethics, Research, issues concerning safe environment for workers and ethical issues so that they can grow to become ethical researchers whose research can be accepted globally and also learn the ropes on securing grants for research purposes while ensuring that UNIZIK attain the status as one of the top ranked institutions in the globe.
Also speaking one of the resource persons, Prof. Ademola Adejuwon stated that the goal of the program is to create critical mass of responsible researchers in Nigeria. The scholar eulogized the institution for the wonderful innovations highlighting the existing Solar Farm geared towards providing energy that will power the institution. He encouraged the VC to continue in his giant strides of making UNIZIK one of the top ranked institutions in the globe.
Various lectures were delivered during the two-day programme such as Plagiarism and Data Fabrication by Prof. Adebayo Adejuwon, Data Falsification and manipulation by Prof. Adejumo, Conflicts of Interest and Scientific Objectivity by Prof. Christopher Agulanna.
There were lectures on Data Sharing and Management, Mentoring, Institutional Policies for Handling Research Misconduct as well as Publication and Peer Review.
